SEPT. 8, 2024 9am to 4pm John Deere Historic Site Grand Detour, IL
2023 Best of Show LINDA MAGKLARIS
Foresenic art workshop
Dixon artist Bethe Hughes offers insight into crime-solving career / 9
Coming to the TLP stage
Timber Lake Playhouse to present “Church Basement Ladies – A Second Helping” on Sept. 6-15 / 10 75th Annual Grand Detour arts festival
First place for Peoples’ Choice in the U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition was “Merry Summerweenmas” by father-daughter duo Mark and Danica Rogers of Rochelle. The sculpture is Jack Skellington from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” hanging an ornament on a Christmas tree. The sculpture tied for second place in the Artists’ Choice category. The competition took place Aug. 9-25 in Mt. Morris. Story on page 3.
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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 rights reserved. Copyright 2024
Candidate petitions available for April 2025 election
OREGON – Petition packets for the Consolidated Election on April 1, 2025, are available on the Ogle County website. “Petition packets may be accessed on our website, www.oglecountyil.gov. Click on “County Clerk” under Departments, then “Elections.” Next, select “Consolidated Election – April 1, 2025” and “Local Election Official (petition packets). The necessary forms and information is available to print,” Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook said in a news release.
Petition packets for cities, villages, park districts, forest preserve, fire protection districts, library districts and townships are available at local district offices, Cook said. Packets for school board are available at her office.
Candidates could begin circulating
petitions Aug. 20.
School board candidates must file petitions from Nov. 12-18 at the Ogle County Clerk’s office at the courthouse in Oregon. Office hours for filing will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 12-15 and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 18.
All other candidates must file their petitions from Nov. 12-18 with their local election official, Cook said. For more information, call Cook at 815-732-1110.
Sheriff: Body found in Rock River is missing Rockford man
OREGON – A body found in the Rock River is that of a missing Rockford man, authorities confirmed.
The body of Carter McGowan was found about 11 a.m. Aug. 20 in the 4300 block of North Route 2 – midway between Oregon
and Byron – by an individual searching for fossils along the river, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said.
McGowan’s family issued a news release Aug. 21 stating the family had been officially informed by the Ogle County coroner that Carter was recovered from the Rock River north of Oregon.
“We deeply appreciate the love, thoughts and prayers that have surrounded and comforted us since January and we thank everyone who has participated in search efforts in the water and on the ground,” the family said in the release. “This process has shown us some of the best of humanity and we are fortunate and grateful for our family and friends who have cared for us so much.”
McGowan, who was 22 at the time, was declared a missing person Jan. 22, Rockford police records show.
Bingocize! mixes exercise, health education and bingo to help participants overcome health problems. The 10-week program meets twice a week at 1 p.m. for about a half-hour each session.
Diamond Painting, Friday, Aug. 30
Diamond Painting starts at 11 a.m. No skill is involved. We will have paintings for sale. Toasted Marshmallows!
Friday, Aug. 30 is Toasted Marshmallow day! Join us at 7 p.m. for a s’more.
Hagemann/Miller Memorial Golf Outing, Sept. 7
Join us for our annual golf outing on Saturday, Sept. 7. The shotgun start is at 2 p.m. with a steak dinner at 5 p.m. Cost for each golfer is $60. Others are welcome to attend the dinner only for $25. Call Melissa at the center for more information.
CORRECTIONS
Bruce McKanna (left), pastor of the Evangelical Free Church of Mt. Morris, presents a check for $1,991 to Mt. Morris Fire Foundation President Sue Druschel and Foundation Treasurer Bob Dewolfe. The church hosted concessions Aug. 9 at the Friday Night Jamboree with all proceeds going to the Fire Foundation toward a new firehouse. At far right in the front row is firefighter/ paramedic Frank Harenza. In the back row from left are Lt. David Hoffman, Foundation Trustee Ed Baker, firefighter/EMT RG Hough, Deputy Chief Mark Lewis and paramedic Andy Bostic.
MT. MORRIS LIBRARY
Cookbook Club Next Meeting Sept. 3
Join us as we explore The Cookbook Club. Wonderful recipes combined with friendship creates something both beautiful and delicious. Come in, choose your recipe and bring your dish to pass at our next meeting. Join us at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Mt. Morris Senior & Community Center for another exciting meal.
Financial Education Workshop Series: Bare Bones Budgeting
For those newly in recovery or just starting out with no experience in budgeting or saving, join us as we go on a financial learning adventure. Workshops by Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Illinois
Accuracy is important to the Mt. Morris Times. Please call errors to our attention by email at news@oglecountynews.com.
will be offered every other Tuesday at 4 p.m. Dates and classes are Sept. 10, Bare Bones Budgeting; Sept. 24, Classic Budgeting; Oct. 8, Credit Reports; Oct. 22, Credit Reports and Scores; Nov. 5, Card and Banking Features; and Nov. 19, Savings and Investments.
Story Time
Story time is every Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. Bring your little ones to enjoy stories and a craft.
Lego Club, Thursday, Sept. 19
Lego night is the third Thursday of each month. Join in the fun with the family as you build and create together. Families can build from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. Children younger than 8 need to bring a parent with them.
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Photo provided by Vinde Wells
Organizers: StrawFest Day successful end to straw sculpting competition
By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com
MT. MORRIS – The ninth annual U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition culminated in a day full of activities, music and awards.
StrawFest Day took place on the Mt. Morris campus Aug. 24 and featured blacksmith demos, round straw bale races in the street, food trucks, pop-up live music on the Straw Jam stage and more. It was the final hurrah of the event that ran Aug. 9-25 showcasing large straw sculptures.
“If you talk about the whole thing overall, I think it went well,” organizer Jeff Bold said. “I love the fact that you walk uptown [to the sculptures] and sometimes it’s a big crowd, sometimes it’s a handful of people, but there’s always somebody there.”
The U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition started in Rochelle in 2016 after artist Fran Volz visited the small village of Höchenschwand, Germany, which hosts an annual straw sculpting competition that draws thousands of visitors. The event moved to Mt. Morris in 2017, where it is hosted by Encore! Mt. Morris.
“StrawFest Day itself went well,” Bold said. “I think it’s a success. Certainly, we’ll continue.”
Five straw sculptures were entered in this year’s competition and were showcased alongside entries from past years.
Sculptures must be a minimum of 6.5 feet in height, length or width and at least 90% straw on the surface, according to competition rules.
Awards
First place for Peoples’ Choice was “Merry Summerweenmas,” by father-daughter duo Mark and Danica Rogers of Rochelle. The sculpture of Jack Skellington from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” hanging an ornament on a Christmas tree also tied for second place in the Artists’ Choice category.
Jenna Springer of Mt. Morris claimed second place in Peoples’ Choice with her sculpture of Olaf the snowman from “Frozen” titled “Some Towns Are Worth Melting For.”
“Peek A Boo” – a giant owl landing over a log with its talons open to catch a hiding mouse – took third place in Peoples’ Choice and first place in Artists’ Choice. The piece was built by Steve Lentz of Montello, Wisconsin.
Husband and wife team Chris and
Cecilia
Mann of Rockford tied for second place in Artists’ Choice with “Chateau Castor canadensis,” which
depicts a beaver on a mound with a stick in its paws.
The final sculpture was “Freedom”
by Doreen Hartman of Shannon. The giant bald eagle was dedicated to Vietnam War veterans.
Keegan Shirley (left), of Dixon, and Jonathan Ulrich, of Beloit, Wisconsin, race Aug. 24 to roll a 1,000-pound straw bale at StrawFest in downtown Mt. Morris. StrawFest was part of the ninth annual U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition.
Elizabeth Krumm of Oregon looks at “Chateau Castor canadensis” by Chris and Cecilia Mann of Rockford on Aug. 24 during Strawfest on the Mt. Morris Campus. The straw sculpture tied for second place for Artists’ Choice in the ninth annual U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition.
Photos by Alexa Zoellner
Buffalo Brook started at the railroad tracks
There have been two turtle doves living on my patio for the past few weeks and it isn’t even Christmas. Four of us were seated around the table on the patio when someone said, “There are two birds nestled among the flowers and they are just watching us.”
I told them that they were turtle doves and they seemed to be staying on my patio. They were not even 5 feet away and everyone was quite amazed. When we left the patio, they were still there quite content among the flower pots.
I have been wondering how long they plan to stay since they must feel quite secure. My cat does not go outside and I do not have any other cats near the house. I wondered if they plan on spending the winter since I do not know much about this kind of bird.
Every time I wanted to know about a bird I called my dad and being a science teacher, he filled me in. I always got more information than I really
POLO HISTORY
Betty Obendorf
wanted but he enjoyed filling me in on habitat, migration and nesting. In fact, the last conversation I had with him was about a bird. A purple finch that was on my feeder in Eagle Point.
I assume one of these days the two turtle doves will head somewhere else for the winter. It will be interesting if they return next spring to my patio with the jenny wrens.
Right now we are finishing up with summer. They say we will have a few hot days again before fall really settles in with those crisp mornings. The locusts are not really singing that much so I really do not feel like we are into fall.
At the museum we are still giving tours and people are stopping by on Saturdays when Kevin has the
museum open for most of the day. I stopped by with a Buffalo Brook butter box. Kevin opened the display case and we put it in. It was nice to see it there because we did not have a butter box.
I had to tell them how Buffalo Brook started at the railroad tracks as a small spring. It meandered down through the town creating all sorts of havoc when the water table got high. So the day came when they straightened it out, brought it down Colden Street and emptied it into an overflow lined with rock. The little brook then headed on west to Buffalo Creek where it became a part of a bigger body of water. When butter was being made in Polo by a dairy business, they named the new butter after the little brook. It was very appropriate at the time. Now no one seems to know about that little brook that runs by my house all underground on its way to Buffalo Creek. Now when they see the little butter box, they are going to ask us at
the museum, “How did it get the name.” We will have another story to tell.
I also took Sparkle, the little doll named after a character in the Gasoline Alley comics, to the museum. I vaguely remember the Gasoline Alley comic strip. I do not remember the doll but there she is now in our children’s section.
Sparkle has golden hair, a white composition head and a totally black rubber body. She was not like that in the 1940s when she was made. You can read about her on the internet. They explain how her body over the years formed a chemical reaction and turned black. They probably did not use that kind of a body again. So Sparkle has an interesting story to tell. We have lots of interesting stories to tell when people visit our museum in Polo.
• Betty Obendorf is a retired teacher and volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.
Here’s how the Gregorian calendar came to be
While I was working on the last two articles concerning the 1952 Oregon yearbook and Latin teacher Ruth Donaldson, I saw a Roman calendar.
Today, we follow the Gregorian calendar. It is based on the ancient Roman calendar. It is believed that Romulus, the first king of Rome around 700 B.C., developed the Roman calendar.
The Roman calendar had 12 months like the Gregorian calendar, but only 10 months had formal names. Basically, winter was a (dead) month period when the government and military weren’t active, so they only had names for March through December.
The following are the origins of our month’s names:
January was named after the temple of Janus.
February came from the Latin word February (to cleanse). A festival of purification and atonement occurred during this period.
March was named after the Roman god of war, Mars.
Historic Chana School to be subject of Those Were the Days program Aug. 31
OREGON – The Chana School will be the subject of the Those Were The Days program at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Oregon Train Depot.
Otto Dick OGLE COUNTY HISTORY
April came from the Latin word aperio, to open, bud. Plants begin to grow in this month (spring’s renewal).
May was named after the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants.
June was named after Juno, the wife of Jupiter.
July was named to honor Roman dictator Julius Caesar (100 B.C. to 44 B.C.).
August was named to honor the first Roman emperor and grandnephew of Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar (63 B.C to A.D. 14).
September comes from the Latin word septem, meaning seven, because it was the seventh month of the early Roman calendar.
October originally was named Octo.
“The Chana School 1883 to 2003 and Beyond” will be presented by Connie Stauffer of the Chana School Museum. The new PowerPoint presentation will show a collection of pictures of the beginning efforts to save the old 1883 Chana School from destruction, the
November originally was named Novem.
December originally was named Decem in Latin.
Today a month is a unit of time that is about as long as the moon orbits around the earth. Each month lasts between 28 and 31 days. The only month with a variable number of days is the second month, February, which has 29 days during a leap year and 28 days otherwise.
The Gregorian calendar in use today assigns every fourth year a leap year. This adds an extra day to the calendar every four years to compensate for the fact that a period of 365 days is shorter than a tropical year by almost six hours.
I found the 1913 Roman calendar at the historical society. Yes, the history of our calendar is confusing. Now I understand most of its history but not all.
• Otto Dick is a retired teacher and has researched Ogle County history for several years.
moving of the school to Oregon Park East, 201 N. River Road, the restoration of the schoolhouse and the use of the school today.
The historic two-room schoolhouse stands as an example of rural education in Midwest America. The building was
included on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Those Were The Days programs are at the Oregon Depot, 400 Collins St. in Oregon. For more information, call Roger Cain at 815-757-9715, Chris Martin at 815-742-8471 or Otto Dick at 815-440-0639.
Photo provided by Otto Dick A 1913 Roman calendar.
Jury finds Stillman Valley man guilty of possessing images of sexual abuse of children
By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com
OREGON – An Ogle County jury deliberated for three and a half hours Aug. 21 before finding a man guilty of possessing images of children being sexually abused.
Joshua Lake, 30, of Stillman Valley was indicted in May 2021 on 10 counts of possessing and disseminating photos and videos of the alleged abuses in November 2018.
Joshua Lake
Before the start of the two-day trial, prosecutors dismissed seven of the counts, including two dissemination charges that alleged he shared the images.
That left three Class 2 felonies that charged Lake with possessing videos of children – all younger than 13 – engaged in sexual acts with adults and other children.
Assistant State’s Attorney Allison Huntley told jurors that all of the videos were found through an investigation of Lake’s phone and a review of social media accounts.
“This is his phone,” Huntley said carrying a phone in a plastic evidence bag as she walked in front of the jurors’ box. “This phone has these disgusting images
on it. We know this is his phone because his name is all over it. Those videos are his videos.”
William Schuck, Lake’s attorney, disagreed, arguing the phone with the videos on it did not belong to his client.
“Anybody can set up a Facebook account,” Schuck argued. “That means nothing in determining whose phone it is. It’s easy to make a Facebook profile. There are no other identifying factors.”
Schuck said police took the phone in November 2018 and didn’t question Lake about it until February 2021. He claimed the phone belonged to Lake’s older brother who left for Russia when charges were filed.
“The older brother left for Russia to teach English with no degree,” Schuck told jurors. “Why would an American go to Russia in 2021? He had never been to college for teaching. He fled to Russia. He was fleeing because he was going to be prosecuted for child pornography because that phone was his.”
Schuck said prosecutors had no physical evidence linking Lake to the phone.
“There are no fingerprints or DNA evidence on the phone,” Schuck told jurors. “I’m not disputing that there are horrible images of child pornography. But there is not enough evidence to tie them to Joshua Lake.”
Huntley said Lake told Illinois State Police Sgt. Nathan Macklin that the phone belonged to him.
“He [Lake] told police it was his phone,” Huntley argued, claiming the state had proved that Lake had downloaded the videos to his phone in three different places.
Schuck said there was no recording of that conversation presented as evidence.
“That statement that police say he made was not recorded,” Schuck said. “There is no audio or visual recording so we don’t know what was said.”
Huntley countered that social media and email accounts had Lake’s initials and birth year as identifiers.
“The defense wants you to believe there is a conspiracy against this man,” Huntley argued. “This is a court of law. There is no conspiracy.”
She said a lack of DNA evidence was irrelevant to the case because the state did not have to prove he viewed the videos.
“We don’t have to prove he masturbated to it,” Huntley argued. “His name is on that phone. Use common sense and the evidence and find him guilty.”
Lake has been in and out of custody in the Ogle County jail since his arrest and has been represented by several attorneys.
In March 2022, he was determined to be unfit by Judge John Redington and ordered to undergo treatment. He was declared fit in August 2022 after Redington reviewed a court-ordered evaluation. Lake failed to appear for a court
hearing in October 2022 and was arrested in July 2023. He was released on a cash bond but again failed to appear for a hearing. He was remanded to the Ogle County jail in December 2023, where he was held until the trial began.
According to court records, he declined a plea agreement offered by the state Aug. 14 on four counts, including one for dissemination of child pornography, a Class X felony.
At 4 p.m., one hour into their deliberations, jurors sent a note to Redington, the trial judge, inquiring about evidence. He responded that they should rely on evidence presented at the trial.
At 5:36 p.m., jurors sent another handwritten note that Redington read to the attorneys and Lake: “We have not yet reached a unanimous decision. Is there a time limit?”
Redington responded: “Please continue to deliberate. There is no set time limit for today.”
The seven-man, five-woman jury reached the verdict at 6:27 p.m., finding Lake guilty on all three counts. Each of the counts is punishable by three to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections with two years mandatory supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000.
Redington set Lake’s sentencing hearing for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 17, pending completion of a presentence investigation, which is estimated to take six weeks.
Court awaits fitness evaluation of man charged with attempted murder of 3 officers
By PAYTON FELIX pfelix@shawmedia.com
OREGON – An Ogle County assistant state’s attorney said she has not yet received a fitness evaluation report for a rural Dixon man who faces charges of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of three police officers on June 12 near Dixon.
Jonathon Gounaris, 32, is being held at the Winnebago County jail in Rockford on four counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card. He pleaded not guilty July 10.
Police allege Gounaris shot three members of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team after a three-hour standoff when police tried to enter his home in Lost Lake, a rural subdivision east of Dixon.
Ogle County
Sheriff’s Lt. Jason Ketter was shot in the face and taken to OSF Medical Center in Rockford. He underwent surgery and was released from the hospital June 14.
Ogle County
Sheriff’s Deputy Tad Dominski was shot in the arm and Tyler Carls of the Rochelle Fire Department was shot in the torso. They were treated at KSB Hospital in Dixon and released that evening.
The ERT is made up of individuals from different agencies including the sheriff’s office, Oregon and Byron police departments and SWAT medics from the Rochelle Fire Department.
Gounaris also was shot during the gunfire exchange and taken to KSB Hospital in Dixon, where he was treated before being booked into the Winnebago
County jail on June 18.
Gounaris appeared Monday before Judge John “Ben” Roe wearing a red jumpsuit issued to inmates, handcuffs and leg irons. He was escorted by three Winnebago County corrections officers and two Ogle County court deputies.
Ogle County Public Defender Kathleen Isley took over Gounaris’ case after Public Defender William Gibbs’ resignation last week. Isley requested a further status update be scheduled to give her time to look over the case.
She echoed some of Gibbs’ previous arguments for Gounaris’ release, stating he could be released under certain conditions such as home confinement or for mental health treatment.
Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Kruse disagreed based on her previous arguments, which include emphasizing the seriousness of the charges as well as the injuries to law enforcement.
Kruse also said they were supposed to receive a fitness evaluation report for
Gounaris and have not received it.
Roe entered an order for a fitness evaluation July 25 at the request of Gibbs. A fitness evaluation determines if a defendant has the mental capacity to participate in their defense during court proceedings.
Jayne Braden, a court-appointed forensic and clinical psychologist in Sycamore, was assigned to complete the evaluation at the Winnebago County jail. According to the order for fitness evaluation, Braden – within 30 days of the order file date – will submit a written report to the court that details a diagnosis, if one is found, and an explanation as to how that conclusion was reached. Saturday, Aug. 24, was 30 days from July 25. Isley said she would get that report to the state by Gounaris’ next court appearance.
Roe again denied the request for Gounaris’ release.
Gounaris’ next court appearance is 1:30 p.m. Sept. 16.
Jonathon Gounaris
Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity:
Aug. 19
Raul Alexander Rivera-Gomez, 20, of Davis Junction, was arrested for domestic battery after deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at the Rolling Meadows Tailer Park at 2:28 p.m. Rivera-Gomez was taken to the Ogle County jail and held in lieu of bond.
Aug. 20
A 16-year-old male of Lindenwood was cited for no valid driver’s license after deputies responded to the area of Lindenwood for a complaint of a juvenile driving unlicensed about 5:27 p.m. Deputies found the car a short time later and performed a traffic stop. The 16-year-old was released from the scene to his parents on a notice to appear and given a future court date.
Denise Wagoner, 38, of Mt. Morris, was arrested for criminal damage to property after deputies responded to the 3900 block of west Illinois Route 64 at the Mount Morris Hotel about 9:21 p.m. for a report of damage to a vehicle. Wagoner was taken to the Ogle County jail and held pending a court appearance.
Aug. 21
Sergio De Leon, 23, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop on Illinois Route 64 at Interstate 39 about 11:31 p.m. De Leon was released on a notice to appear with a future court date.
Aug. 22
Jonathan Keegan, 29, of Byron, was arrested for battery. About 9:08 p.m., deputies and the Byron Police Department responded to the 100 block of South Union Street in Byron for the report of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance. Deputies found Keegan walking along
East Blackhawk Drive and provided him a ride to his residence. Shortly thereafter, an altercation occurred with a male at Keegan’s residence. Keegan was taken to the Ogle County jail and held pending a court appearance.
Marcelo Castillo, 32, of Mt. Morris, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 7000 block of east Illinois Route 72 about 11:22 p.m. Castillo also was cited for improper lane use and failure to reduce speed. Castillo was taken to the Ogle County jail and released on a notice to appear.
Aug. 23
Daniel Roman, 42, of Rochelle, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for driving while license suspended at 4 p.m. He was taken to the Ogle County jail and held without bond.
Jaylon Reints, 20, of Rock Falls, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 5000 block of south Illinois Route 2 about 8:34 p.m. Reints also was cited for loud exhaust and improper display of registration. Reints was released on a notice to appear. Ryan D. Considine, 38, of Byron, was cited for failure to yield while turning left after deputies and the Byron Fire Protection District responded to a two-vehicle crash on North Tower Road just north of East Water Road in Byron about 9:13 p.m. An investigation showed Considine was driving a Chevy Equinox north on North Tower Road when he began to turn left into a driveway. Considine’s vehicle was struck by a southbound Suzuki motorcycle driven by Gage P. States, 18, of Byron. States was taken by Byron EMS to Javon Bea Hospital-Rockton for suspected serious injuries.
Aug. 24
Juan Olguin, 42, of Rochelle, was arrested for an outstanding Ogle County warrant after deputies and Rochelle police performed a warrant service in the 1000 block of North Seventh Street in Rochelle at 12:01 a.m. Olguin was taken to the Ogle County jail and held in lieu of bond.
Dustin Lindsley, 37, of Sterling, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, driving while license suspended and a Rockford Police Department warrant after a traffic stop in the 6000 block of South Freeport Road about 1:58 a.m. Lindsley also was cited for loud exhaust and improper display of registration. Lindsley was taken to the Ogle County jail and released on a notice to appear.
Brandin L. Rees, 40, of Sycamore, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash in the 8800 block of north Illinois Route 2 at 4:02 p.m. An investigation showed Rees was driving a 2013 Lincoln MKX north when they struck the guardrail on the east side of the roadway with the front passenger side of the Lincoln. The vehicle then spun across both lanes of traffic, coming to rest on the shoulder and southbound lane of Route 2. Rees also was cited for use of electronic communication device on a roadway and improper lane use. Rees was taken to the Ogle County jail and released on a notice to appear with a future court date. Byron police assisted at the scene.
Gerardo Tirado Jr., 20, of Joliet, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop near the intersection of Gurler and County Line roads about 8:57 p.m. Tirado also was cited for expired registration. Tirado was released on a notice to appear.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEF
Born: October 17, 1933
Died: August 26, 2024
MACHESNEY PARK, IL
– Sarah Louise Wible, age 90, formerly of Mt. Morris, IL, passed away in her home on Monday, August 26, 2024.
Sarah was born on October 17, 1933 in Knoxville, TN, the daughter of Raymond & Mary (Riley) Hartsell. She married James Wible Sr., and he preceded her in death. She graduated from Rockford School of Nursing with an LPN and she received her RN from Jefferson County College. Sarah
worked and retired as a registered nurse.
Sarah is survived by her children, Pamela (Dennis) Vogel, Mary Kappen, and James Wible Jr; 6 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Doug (Jane) Hartsell. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, James Sr.; son, Gerald Wible; brother, Clarence “CH”; sister, Anna Ruth Hiscox and numerous immediate family members.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 11:00 A.M., at Finch Funeral Home, 405 East Hitt, Mt. Morris, IL. Burial will be held at West Grove Cemetery, Forreston, IL. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 from 10:00 A.M. until service time at Finch Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials to be established.
Mark Ellsworth, 52, of Stillman Valley, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop near the intersection of Pacific and North streets in Monroe Center about 10:54 p.m. Ellsworth was released on a notice to appear. Aug. 25
Juan Everto Mejia-Duarto, 34, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license suspended, suspended registration and no vehicle insurance after a traffic stop in the 3000 block of north Illinois Route 251 at 1:01 p.m. He was released with a future court date.
Marbella A. Alvarez, 19, of Dixon, was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash in the 1500 block of south Illinois Route 2 about 3:22 p.m. An investigation showed Alvarez was driving a Chevrolet Malibu north when it rear-ended a Chevrolet Traverse driven by Colista J. Foat, 37, of Rockford. Oregon EMS assisted at the scene.
Christina M. Martinez, 28, of Dixon, was arrested on a Lee County warrant after a traffic stop in the 2000 block of south Illinois Route 2 about 9:02 p.m. Martinez was taken to the Ogle County jail and held in lieu of bond.
Rafal Nalepa, 30, of Chicago, was arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol after deputies investigated a vehicle parked in the roadway in the 100 block of East Washington Street in Oregon about 9:06 p.m. Nalepa also was cited for illegal parking in the roadway. Nalepa was taken to the Ogle County jail and released on a notice to appear.
SUBLETTE – Rescue crews successfully rescued a man trapped in a grain bin last week near Sublette.
Sublette fire and emergency medical services were dispatched about noon Wednesday, Aug. 21, to 1519 Sublette Road for a man trapped in a grain bin.
While en route, Sublette fire requested assistance and equipment from MABAS TRT Teams 18 (Lee/Ogle) and 25 (LaSalle/Bureau), along with the Amboy Fire Department, Advance EMS of Dixon, OSF Life Flight, Sublette Farmers Elevator Co., Maplehurst Farms and Althaus Brothers Farms.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the man trapped up to his waist in corn about 10 to 15 feet down in a 25-foot grain bin. Because of the nature of the rescue, it took firefighters almost three hours to successfully and safely rescue the man.
Crews were able to use rescue tubes to get the man free, with farm vehicles stationed nearby in case they needed to drain the corn from the bin.
Once rescued, the man was flown by OSF Life Flight helicopter to Saint Anthony Medical Center for evaluation. The man was released Wednesday night.
– Shaw Local News Network
SARAH LOUISE WIBLE
Shaw Media names Hosey executive editor
Will oversee news operations across northern Illinois
By BOB OKON bokon@shawmedia.com
Joseph Hosey has returned to Shaw Media as executive editor for the company’s news operations.
Hosey previously was with Shaw Media as editor of the Herald-News in Joliet from 2018 to 2022. He left to become executive editor of The Times of Northwest Indiana, a position he held until returning to Shaw last week.
“I’m really glad to be back with
Shaw Media,”
Hosey said. “It’s a great company, and I’m looking forward to working with this talented team.”
Hosey also was a reporter for the Herald-News from 1999 to 2010, a period in which he reported on the disappearance of former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson’s wife and the death of his previous wife.
Hosey’s investigation into the Peterson matter led to his book “Fatal
PROPERTY TRANSFERS FOR OGLE COUNTY
Aug. 17-23
Warranty deeds
Alex G. Elston and Danielle A. Elston to Patrick E. Layton and Makayla L. Layton, 424 Wayne Road, Rochelle, $294,000.
Brian D. Diehl to Brian D. Ostrander and Ashley C. Throw, 103 E. Brayton Road, Mt. Morris, $92,000.
Dale E. Rowland and Jennifer Rowland to Melesa Mann, 405 W. Main St., Mt. Morris, $156,500.
Kenneth E. Norup to Patrick G. Featherson II and Shawna D. Featherson, 397 N. Enterprise Dr., Byron, $212,500.
Kolin W. Erb and Keli E. Jordan Gardner to Tiffany D. Dobbels and Austin A. Dobbels, 9586 E. Marquand Dr., Rochelle, $485,000.
Seldal Properties LLC to RKJJ Investments LLC, 305-307 Irene Ave., Rochelle, and 301-303 Irene Ave., Rochelle, $268,000.
David Pelayo to Manuel D. Jimenez, 645 S. Second St., Rochelle, $65,000.
Barry J. Powell and Laura A. Powell to Lindsey and Cory Perkins, 108 N. Main St., Kings, $202,000.
Zechariah VanVickle to Katrina Mulcahy and Joseph Striblen, 827 N. Kristi Dr., Byron, $283,000.
Abigail E. Gould to Lisa Kemmer, 1219 Westview Dr., Rochelle, $169,000.
Richie H. Boyden, Richard R. Boyden and Larry J. Foss to Jennifer Lynn Vanoosten, one parcel in Grand Detour Township, $33,000.
Adam B. Albrecht and Allison Albrecht to Evan B. Cooper and Katelyn A. Cooper, 2734 N. Deer Path Circle, Oregon, $225,000.
Next Landscaping LLC to Chad Zeman, 506 E. Mason St., Polo, $155,000. Robert Kufel to Kerry Tumleson and
Maureen F. Tumleson, one parcel, $10,000.
Quit claim deeds
Nick Quist and Nick Bratthauer to Nick and Ross Bratthauer, 5324 S. Wendell Dr., Rochelle, $0.
Lisa L. Gocken to Lisa L. Peterson and David Peterson, 10271 E. Deer Creek Lane, Rochelle, $0.
Cheap Lands Inc. and Eric Herm to Sandor Kunyik, one parcel on Wendorf Road, Monroe Center, Monroe Township, $2,900.
Stephen E. James and Yong C. James to Randy L. James, Melissa L. Shere,
Stephen E. James, life use, and Yong C. James, life use, 506 W. Center St., Mt. Morris, $0.
Shiloh N. Rhodes to Shiloh N. Rhodes and Agnes Rhodes, 10215 Hickory Ridge Dr., Rochelle, $0.
Linda Louise Brass, deceased by heirs, to Anthony R. G. Brass, 1044 Turkington Terrace, Rochelle, $0.
Alvin Oltmanns to William B. Hagemann, 7786 N. Kishwaukee Road, Stillman Valley, $0.
Judy Hagemann to William B. Hagemann, 7786 N. Kishwaukee Road, Stillman Valley, $0.
Ronald R. Miller to Sharon and David Thierfelder, 423 Des Moines Lane, Dixon, $0.
Trustee deeds
James D. Hart, trustee, and Ridge Bridge Trust to Scott R. Williams, trustee, Scott R. Williams Trust, Sandra L. Williams, trustee, Sandra L. Williams Trust and Scott RC Williams, two parcels in Pine Creek Township, $1,307,121.
Stephen J. Dullard, trustee, Debra K. Dullard, trustee, and Stephen J. and Debra K. Dullard Living Trust to Robert D.
Vows: The Tragic Wives of Sergeant Drew Peterson” and a Lifetime movie adapting the book.
“We are very fortunate that Joe agreed to return to Shaw Media,” said John Rung, president and CEO of Shaw Media. “He did a tremendous job for us as a reporter and an editor for the Herald-News. We were sorry to see him go, but he gained tremendous experience working for Lee Enterprises in northwest Indiana. I look forward to working with Joe as we strive to better serve readers across northern Illinois.”
Shaw Media owns newspapers and radio stations across northern Illinois
and in Iowa, serving markets in 17 counties with editorial content devoted primarily to local news.
Hosey’s past experience includes work as a reporter in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Lincoln, Illinois.
His work as a journalist has been recognized with several awards, including the National Press Club John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award. He was inducted into the Northern Illinois University Journalism Hall of Fame.
Hosey is originally from Queens, New York.
He lives in New Lenox with his family.
Branscum and Billie Branscum, 201 Tamarack Dr., Dixon, $3,500.
William H. Houghtaling, trustee, Patricia N. Houghtaling, trustee, Patricia N. Houghtaling Trust and Houghtaling Family 2028 Trust to Kyle Kostelny and Stephanie Goliber, 2599 S. Snyder Road, Oregon, $115,000.
Deeds in trust
John B. Northrop, deceased, and Karen K. Northrop to Karen K. Northrop, trustee, and Karen K. Northrop Trust, 9718 N. Woodgate Lane, Byron, $0.
Betty L. Daniels to Betty L. Daniels, trustee, and Betty L. Daniels Trust, 7383 N. Limestone Road, Monroe Center, $0.
Randy J. Umbdenstock and Nancy J. Umbdenstock to Randy J. and Nancy J. Umbdenstock Joint Living Trust, one parcel, $0.
Warranty deeds in trust
Andrea Cashman, Andrea Willey and Robert Willey to Andrew M. Smith, trustee, Andrew M. Smith Living Trust, Shantel T. Smith, trustee, and Shantel T. Smith Living Trust, 7081 S. Riverside Dr.,
Dixon, $360,000.
Transfer on death instrument
Lloyd Allen Clayton to Michael Clayton and Sandra Aughenbaugh, 5477 N. Junction Road, Davis Junction, $0.
Daniel W. Walter and Christina Walter to Walter Family Trust, trustee, 202 W. Willis Ave., Rochelle, $0.
Shiloh and Agnes Rhodes to Maddox Rhodes and Alexis Czaplinski, 10215 Hickory Ridge Dr., Rochelle, $0.
Charles E. Davidson to Lisa R. Wedig and Charles E. Davidson, 1164 Westview Dr., Rochelle, $0.
Daniel W. Hale and Barbara L. Hale to Megan and Jenna Hale, 15946 E. Lu Ann Lane, Davis Junction, $0.
Nicholas J. Lung to Frank Lung and Nancy Carr Lung, life use, 4308 West Grove Road, Leaf River, $0.
Beverly N. Richardson to Rhonda R. Duffy and Harfrolle Special Needs Trusts, 807 Monroe St., Oregon, and 806 Scott St., Oregon, $0.
Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office
Joe Hosey
Polo chili cook-off, block party set for Sept. 28
By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com
POLO – An enthusiastically expanded version of the Polo chili cook-off is set to return next month.
“We’re moving that direction of a fall fest, so we’re trying to get people to come out,” co-organizer Becky Davis said. “I’m talking to the local businesses just to let them know so that they can also come out and take advantage of, hopefully, a big group of people coming to Polo.”
The Polo Chamber of Commerce Chili Cook-Off and Block Party is set for noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in the 100 block of West Mason Street in Polo.
As of Aug. 19, five teams were registered to make chili and 15 vendors were confirmed, Davis said. Along with chili tasting, there will be a live DJ, a 50/50 raffle and crafters and vendors.
This will be the first year the event is held on West Mason Street. It previously took place in the city-owned lot next to the Shell gas station on South Division Avenue.
Because of the number of vendors and teams entered, there is not enough room at the lot for the event to
safely occur, Davis said. Last year, when more than 200 people attended, people were parking on Division Avenue and walking across the street, she said.
Parking on Division Avenue – the name for Route 26 in city limits – is prohibited by city law.
The Polo chili cook-off was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Attempts to revive it in 2021 and 2022 drew only two or three entries and it was canceled those years.
It almost did not occur in 2023, but then-Chamber Vice President Tammy Merdian convinced the board to give it one more go under Davis and co-organizer Jodi Boelens.
Davis and Boelens had about five weeks to plan the 2023 chili cook-off. They had six teams enter a total of nine chilis and some of the teams sold out of chili within an hour and a half, Davis said.
“The Chamber, before I joined, had reached out and asked me if I was willing to revamp it and I was like, ‘OK, because I think it’s going to be fun,’ but then I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh. What did I just volunteer myself for?’” Davis said. “But it turned out so good. Everybody was in a good mood and we had the blood drive and it was just such a good day. I was so excited about how it turned out.”
The deadline to register to participate in the chili cook-off is Sept. 19. Entry packets are available at Polo City Hall, 115 S. Franklin Ave., Polo. The fee is $35 a team for up to two chilis. Each additional chili costs $10. For information on registering, visit PoloChamber.org.
Alexa Zoellner file photo
Amanda Shuman of Polo serves up a bowl of pumpkin chili during Polo’s chili cook-off Sept. 30, 2023. The cook-off was held in the city-owned lot next to the Shell station. It was the first time the event had taken place since 2019. This year’s event is set for Sept. 28.
Dixon artist offers insight into crime-solving career
By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com
OREGON – Bethe Hughes used her artistic skills to help solve crimes. On Aug. 17, she shared those skills, mixed with some of her own memories, during a forensic art presentation at the Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques and Americana.
“As a forensic artist you want to reach into a person’s memory. You want to get them to talk, go back to the events of the day, their routine,” said Hughes, a retired special agent with the Illinois State Police. “Then when you get to the part that was traumatic, hopefully they can remember.”
Hughes, a Dixon resident, said memories from victims or witnesses are essential in creating an accurate drawing of the perpetrator, which police investigators then can use to solve a crime.
She began her 20-year career as an ISP special agent and crime scene investigator and she became a forensic artist after her talent for perspective was noticed when she was asked to gather fingerprints on a window.
“The prints were along the sill and the window glass, so I presented them like that in my report,” Hughes said. “When my supervisor saw what I had done, he said, ‘That’s in perspective –have you ever thought about being a forensic artist?’ And I said, ‘OK.’ ”
She trained at the FBI Academy for a year and worked in forensics for five years before retiring.
“My mom was an artist and I grew up with art,” she said. “My mom only allowed us a box of eight crayons. She said we could create colors from those eight. But I didn’t discover my own artistic skills until I was with the FBI.”
Twenty-two people attended the Aug. 17 workshop and immediately were tasked with creating a composite of a “suspect” from portions of photos that Hughes cut up from magazines. She cut the photos into pieces – upper third, brow line, middle third, eyes and lower third – giving each participant different pieces of each photo.
They were given paper with a rectangle with those areas marked along with pencils and a small eraser and began creating their sketch as Hughes offered drawing tips interspersed with her experiences.
“I always start with the eyes and work my way out,” she instructed. “Look at the shape of each eye, then the nose – is it wide or narrow or average? This is going to be a problem-solving venture to see how the features go.
“What happens if it looks wrong? That’s how it works in real life. You erase and try again,” she said. “When I worked with victims they would often say, ‘No, that’s not it” and then I would
start erasing. You want to try and get all the features first and then put them all together.”
A witness or victim who is detailed with their description can help the artist create an accurate drawing.
“You want someone who is very descriptive. If it was a very traumatic event, it may take some time,” she said, referring to the length of an interview.
She recalled one incident where a witness was returning to her job as a bank teller when she walked in on the bank being robbed.
“She had the best view of the suspect, but another teller signaled her to go and she ran to the alley. The suspect followed her and he took off his mask and was going to attack her. She was scared to death and fighting for her life because she thought he was going to come and get her,” Hughes said. “She knew he had seen her see him. She was too traumatized to help. I told the FBI that she needed psychological help and they got it for her.”
Another witness to the same armed robbery had only seen part of the suspect’s face and asked to be interviewed by Hughes. “She only had a side view, but we did a drawing and the police were able to use it and they ended up arresting the robber,” Hughes said.
In another case, an older disabled woman had been a victim of a crime and had difficulty remembering
and 3D reconstructions of crime scenes or evidence such as clay sculpting.
Ashlyn Foster, 17, of Savanna, was one of the participants in the workshop.
“My plan is to be a forensic pathologist. That is my dream,” Foster said. Foster’s rendition of the pieced-together “suspect” looked a lot like him, while some of the other participants’ drawings did not.
Kent Lawrence’s sketch looked like a werewolf.
“I think it kind of looks like him,” the Oregon resident said.
Upcoming CMAAA classes and workshops
Photography is Jazz with a Camera, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. Presented by Rich Ankeney.
This presentation draws parallels between camera work and jazz improvisation. Beyond that, it suggests many ideas on composition and the creative process that are applicable to the work of any visual artist. It has been enjoyed by college students at Knox College and several other groups in Peoria and Galesburg.
details until Hughes worked with her to take her back to routine events that happened earlier in the day before the crime occurred.
Hughes said the woman remembered seeing someone at the laundromat who was washing a T-shirt with a similar logo on it that the suspect was wearing.
“When one of the investigators heard that, he remembered a woman who had a son with that T-shirt design. He jumped up and went to talk to them,” Hughes said. “I was still drawing and they had him arrested. The witness has to be with you in it. She was guiding me and it led to solving the crime.”
Hughes said forensic artistry is being replaced with digital options and she fears the interview process with victims and witnesses could be lost. She said showing victims or witnesses photo arrays before they have a chance to work with a forensic artist often muddles memories.
“The investigators want to get it solved, but I would always ask them not to do photo arrays before I could do my interview,” she said.
Forensic artists also can examine remains and create sketches of what a victim may have looked like, sketch victims or suspects based on surveillance footage and photographs, create age progressions to help identify missing persons or suspects and make 2D
Ankeney has been making photographs for more than 50 years and recently started painting again. He has exhibited widely and his work has received numerous awards. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and photography from Quincy University, a master’s degree in art education from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Western Illinois University.
Ankeney completed more than 40 hours of coursework to achieve Apple Teacher Institute certification. He taught art and photography classes at Carl Sandburg College for more than 25 years. In 2002, he received an Outstanding Alumni Award from the Art Department at Quincy University. There is no fee, but registration is required. Registration closes at noon Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Glass Workshop Trinket Tray, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 12. $30 members, $35 nonmembers. Instructor is Valerie Butcher.
In this workshop, you will make a 4-inch square tray. Projects will be ready for pickup one week after the workshop. Fee includes all materials, safety glasses and firing. Please wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. For ages 10 and older. An adult must accompany students younger than 13. Registration closes at noon Wednesday, Oct. 9.
The museum is located at 124 N. Fourth St. in Oregon.
For information, visit cmaaa.org or call 815-595-5810.
Earleen Hinton
Retired forensic artist Bethe Hughes of Dixon gives some tips to Ashlyn Foster, 17, of Savanna, during a workshop on forensic art Aug. 17 at the Coliseum Museum of Art, Antiques, and Americana in Oregon. Hughes worked as a special agent for the Illinois State Police for 20 years before retiring.
Timber Lake Playhouse transitions to fall events
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
MOUNT CARROLL – Timber Lake Playhouse has bid farewell to its summer season, but the excitement doesn’t end there.
The playhouse is offering events in autumn and winter that cater to longtime patrons, young families and new audiences.
The playhouse held its annual gala Aug. 24 and the closing performance of “Jekyll & Hyde” was Aug. 25.
For the upcoming season, Timber Lake Playhouse will showcase “Church
Basement Ladies – A Second Helping” on Sept. 6-15. The sequel to the 2023 September hit will feature returning cast members and choreographer-turned-director Dawn Trautman.
For young families, TLP is offering special movie nights including “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” on Aug. 31, “Halloweentown” on Oct. 19 and “The Polar Express” on Dec. 21. Tickets for these family films are priced at $5 for youths and $10 for adults.
New to the playhouse this year are music events such as The Chicago Experience, a Chicago tribute, on Sept. 28 and Are You Ready For It?, a Taylor Swift
experience, on Nov. 2. Returning fan favorites include Simply Elton and Simply Billy, a musical tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel featuring Brian Harris and the Mad Hatters Band; the ever-popular Heartache Tonight, an Eagles tribute; and Elvis Through the Years with the dynamic father-son duo John and Jonathan Lyons.
All concerts begin at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $30 ($25 for TLP subscribers).
Shades of Hunks, featuring a world-renowned male dance group, offers an unforgettable girls night out at Timber Lake Playhouse on Saturday, Sept. 21. The event kicks off at
8 p.m. Tickets cost $30. Note that this event is for ages 18 and older.
Other notable events include Oktoberfest featuring Brewfest on Oct. 12 – it offers family fun and craft beer tastings – a Trick or Treat Trail at the theater coinciding with “Halloweentown” on Oct. 19 and the annual showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Oct. 26. For the full schedule for Timber Lake Playhouse or to buy tickets, go to timberlakeplayhouse.org. Tickets also can be bought by calling the box office at 815244-2035 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and until intermission on show days.
Serenity Hospice & Home offers
3-week grief class in September
Serenity Hospice & Home is offering a free three-week grief class led by the Rev. Dana Cox from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 10, 17 and 24.
The class will be held at Serenity Hospice & Home, located south of Oregon at 1658 S. Illinois Route 2. Call 815-732-4111 to register.
After a significant loss it is normal to feel overwhelmed and disoriented because of the sudden absence of a loved one. The initial one to two years of grieving can be incredibly painful and bewildering. During this time:
• Shock may persist for weeks or months, causing a distorted sense of time.
• Feelings of powerlessness, confusion and ineffectiveness may arise.
• Difficulty concentrating and accomplishing tasks may be experienced.
• Mood swings and erratic behavior might occur.
• Crying and clinging to the belongings of the deceased person may happen.
• Vivid dreams and perceived commu-
nications from the departed person may be encountered.
• Doubts about the future and the ability to move forward may arise. Despite these challenges, it’s crucial to recognize that these reactions are part of the grieving process. While the early stages of a significant loss can be daunting, this class can provide support. We will learn six essential steps that can help make our days during deep grief a bit more manageable.
Encore! Mt. Morris offers bus trip to Spring Green, Wisconsin
MT. MORRIS – Encore! Mt. Morris will host its fifth arts-oriented chartered bus trip Sept. 25, traveling north to Spring Green, Wisconsin.
All seats are open to the public. Registration deadline is Sept. 10. Additional registrations will be allowed after Sept. 10 if there is room.
Highlights of the trip will include:
• A tour of Taliesin, famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and surrounding estate outside of Spring Green,
Wisconsin
• The No Rules Gallery (more than 80 artists in multiple mediums) and Bird of Paradise Tea Room (75 teas and homemade pie and other baked goods)
• Gallery Art on 23 (blown glass art objects by 35 artists)
• “Artsy” shops in Spring Green. The cost for the trip is $112, which includes the bus ride and all entry fees. Bring a sack lunch to be eaten at Taliesin. Dinner will be on your own at one of the several restaurants in Spring Green. Registration can be completed online at encoremtmorris.com – click the Taliesin Bus Trip button – or stop by Mt. Morris Village Hall at 105 W Lincoln St. For questions, email mollyb@encoremtmorris.com.
Fall
art classes provided by Encore!
Mt. Morris and Highland College
MT. MORRIS – Encore! Mt. Morris and Highland Community College’s division of Lifelong Learning are collaborating to host four art classes between Oct. 2 and
Nov. 5, most from 6 to 8 p.m. or all day on a Saturday.
Classes offered are Clay Vases, Intro to Watercolor Painting, Working with Color: Mixing and Blending in Watercolor Painting and Linocut Printmaking
All supplies are included in the course fees. Classes are held in several locations around Mt. Morris.
For course details (descriptions, locations, fees, instructors, photos of projects) and to register for one or more of the classes, go to encoremtmorris.com and click on “Fall 2024 Art Classes”. On the courses page, click on the title or photo of the class that interests you. It will take you to the Highland Community College Lifelong Learning page to register. For questions, email Molly Baker at mollyb@encoremtmorris.com.
Encore! Mt. Morris is composed of volunteers committed to developing Mt. Morris into a unique, thriving rural and cultural arts destination in northwest Illinois. Learn more at EncoreMtMorris. com.
– Shaw Local News Network
8-MAN FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW
Polo Marcos
Coach: Ted Alston 2023 record: 9-3
Schedule: Aug. 30 South Beloit; Sept. 6 at River Ridge; Sept. 13 Hiawatha; Sept. 20 at Ashton-Franklin Center; Sept. 27 Alden Hebron; Oct. 4 at Milledgeville; Oct. 11 Rockford Christian Life; Oct. 18 at West Carroll; Oct. 26 at Orangeville.
Worth noting: The Marcos look to reload after losing quarterback Brock Soltow to graduation. He was the twotime Sauk Valley Media Football Player of the Year with three straight All-State seasons. Polo reached the 8-man semifinals before losing 40-6 to eventual state champion Amboy. Among Polo’s top players are seniors Noah Dewey (WR/DB), Jeffrey Donaldson (OL/DL), Logan Nelson (OL/ DL), Billy Lowry (RB/DB) and Gus Mumford (QB/DB).
Milledgeville Missiles
Coach: Jason Wroble 2023 record: 9-2
Schedule: Aug. 30 Ashton-Franklin Center; Sept. 6 at Alden-Hebron; Sept. 14 at Orangeville; Sept. 20 Rockford Christian Life; Sept. 27 at West Carroll; Oct. 4 Polo; Oct. 11 at South Beloit; Oct. 18 River Ridge; Oct. 25 at Hiawatha.
Worth noting: The Missiles lost AllState quarterback and the I8FA’s all-
Polo coach Ted Alston rallies his team last season during a game at Milledgeville.
time leading passer Connor Nye to graduation, but return a stable of productive tailbacks in Micah TomsSmith, Spencer Nye and Konner Johnson, along with tight end and pass rusher Karter Livengood. Milledgeville reached the second round of the 8-man playoffs last year before los-
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Saturday, November 9th 9am to 3pm Sunday, November 10th 9am to 2pm Contact June (309) 781-2206
ing 35-23 to Polo in the quarterfinals.
Polo at Milledgeville, Oct. 4
Two of the top teams in 8-man last season meet at the home of the Missiles in what seems likely to have a major impact on the I8FA playoff bracket when it is released three
weeks later. They split their two meetings in 2023.
Other 8-man teams are the Alden-Hebron Giants, Amboy/LaMoille Clippers, Ashton-Franklin Center Raiders, Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland Falcons, Hiawatha Hawks, and West Carroll Thunder.
As I write this, it is one of those 100-degree days and the practice fields are empty as teams adhere to the IHSA heat guidelines.
That brings me to the topic of a cool dip in a swimming pool, which is getting harder and harder to find these days. Recently, Sauk Valley News had articles on the demise of outdoor pools in Dixon and Sterling.
Both have been gone for many years, as have numerous other pools all over the country.
Extremely high maintenance costs, skyrocketing insurance and lack of staffing are major reasons for closures.
’Tis a shame as I recall how instrumental an outdoor pool was for me as a youth in Galva and Rochelle.
A rite of passage for us second graders was to go off the high dive in the Galva pool. Scary, but rewarding. Now, many pools have gotten rid of any type of diving boards, opting for slides or climbing walls.
In the midst of all the obstacles in keeping a public pool up and running, credit to small-town Polo for keeping its pool open for all ages to enjoy. There are so many more complexities to it than when I was a kid in Galva back in the 1960s. Life was simpler then.
As you get older, there becomes a
high school sports
sense of nostalgia and a bonding with people of your own age group as we relate to commonalities in our upbringing. Lately, there has been a clash with younger generations in respective mindsets. Kind of boomers versus snowflakes.
Rather than join in the fray, my goal is to refrain from that dialogue and keep this column a curmudgeon-free zone. So I will not espouse the character-building virtues of having three-a-day football practices in weather like this in full gear with only a sip or two of water.
Here’s something that is much different than my era and a real plus. Rather than engaging in boring scrimmages with your own practice mates, football teams are inviting other schools over for this purpose.
For example, Oregon hosted Eastland for a live scrimmage at the RedWhite Night. The same was done between Byron and Stillman Valley. Very cool concept.
With perennial doormat Rockford
Christian opting out of football, teams in the Big Northern were given a chance to upgrade their schedule, something previously impossible as a 10-team closed football conference, one of only seven such leagues in Illinois.
Byron scored a coup by adding Williamsville, whom they lost to in a 2019 state-title thriller. With a remarkable track record, Byron has been in four state finals and two semis in the past six years.
Oregon also got a marquee matchup. It will be hosting 2A state runner-up Athens in the last week of the regular season. The Hawks could have taken the easy way out and gained a forfeit and rested their players for the playoffs.
Let the kids play, even if it is against a more formidable opponent than RC. Oregon is favored to make the playoffs, but if injuries or bad breaks derail that dream, at least there still would be something at stake to play for in Week 9 instead of turning gear in a week earlier.
It was encouraging to see 20 seniors on the roster. A few years ago, Oregon barely had 20 total varsity players.
After struggling for the past decade, this is to be the year for the Hawks to break out of the slump, especially with a solid junior class
backing up the seniors.
Of course, Byron remains the team to beat. Watch out for Dixon, too. Oregon is winless against Dixon.
In its best performance last year, Oregon beat Stillman for the first time in recent memory (what this means is I’m too lazy to look up the date). Let’s not forget Stillman handed Byron its last conference loss in being crowned co-champs in 2022.
Week 1 brings three intriguing matchups that may set the tone for the league. Oregon travels to North Boone, Stillman to Dixon and Lutheran to Winnebago.
As a private school in Rockford, Lutheran could be a real wild card. It has some skilled athletes returning and the benefit of being 1A because of its 288 enrollment.
Stillman and Dixon will be the contest everyone will be paying attention to. It will be a barometer for each program.
More on the NUIC and 8-man football next week. One thing is certain though. The NUIC got even tougher with the loss of West Carroll and addition of Morrison. West Carroll went 8-man, making a tidy 10-team Northwest Conference within a reasonable driving distance for Polo.
GIRLS GOLF PREVIEW CAPSULES
Forreston
Coach: Matt Hanley (12th season)
Top returner: Aspen McGlynn, sr.
Worth noting: McGlynn, Forreston’s lone girls golfer, advanced to the sectional last year, where she fired a 98.
Oregon
Coach: Andy Eckardt (1st season)
Top returners: Hailey-Jane Becker, sr.; Aniyah Sarver, jr.; Sarah Eckardt, jr.; Toni Withers, so.
Worth noting: Oregon placed fourth as a team at the regional last season. Eckardt and Sarver advanced to the sectional. “We
only have four girls so they have to stay healthy all season,” Eckardt said. “Each of their scores will count for every meet, which can be a lot of pressure. I’m excited for them to take on this challenge.”
Worth noting: The Cardinals placed fifth at the regional last year and Brown (72) advanced to the sectional. He placed third at last year’s NUIC
Aspen McGlynn drives on hole No. 1 at the Eastland Sectional last season at
McGlynn, a senior, is Forreston’s lone girls golfer this season.
meet. “Our goals are to compete again for a conference title and advance out of regionals as a team,” Hanley said.
Oregon
Coach: Andy Eckardt (1st season)
Top returners: Brogan Wilkinson, sr.; Jackson Messenger, jr.; Nole Campos, jr.
Key varsity newcomer: Landon Anderson, jr.
Now Available
Worth noting: Eckardt was an assistant on last year’s team. Oregon took fifth at last year’s regional. Campos, Messenger and Wilkinson all reached the sectional.
“We have some veterans and some brand-new golfers,” Eckardt said. “The returning members put in hours this past summer and our newcomers are already showing a lot of promise.”
Polo
Coach: Jeff Sands (3rd season)
Top returners: Caleb Sutton, sr.; Aiden Messer, jr.; Jackson Willis, so.; Cooper Dawson, so.; Wyatt Brooks, so.
Worth noting: Sands said the team is raw and Polo’s four additional players are all freshmen. “Having players interested in learning and playing the game is great,” he said. “We are excited to see so many new faces.”
Alex T. Paschal file photo
Lake Carroll Golf Club.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ROUNDUP
Boys golf
Forreston 166, Newman 187: Forreston’s Kaden Brown was medalist at Emerald Hill with a 37. Kenall Erdmann, Darin Greenfield and Daylen Rahn shot 43s for Forreston. Liam Nicklaus (44) led Newman, followed by Chase Decker (45), Michael Morse (49) and Garet Wolfe (49).
Forreston third at invite: Hall took first in the small schools division at the Rocket Invite on Aug. 24 with a 326, followed by Bureau Valley (338) and Forreston (338), which took third via the fifth score tiebreaker. BV’s Wyatt Novotny fired a 75 (37-38) to earn medalist honors. Forreston’s Kaden Brown (38-38–76) was runner-up, followed by Mercer County’s Carson Boelens (76). Also scoring for Forreston were Darin Greenfield (86), Kendall Erdmann (87) and Daylen Rahn (89).
Oregon’s Campos and Messenger win at Roger Keller Classic: Oregon took third with a 255 at the tournament in Sandwich with partner scoring – six holes of better ball, six holes of alternate shot and six holes of scramble. Oregon’s Nole Campos and Jackson Messenger
shot an even-par 72 to take first as a duo by four strokes. Brogan Wilkinson and Landon Anderson (84) were eighth and Tucker O’Brien and Cameron Folk had a 99 for Oregon.
Byron 171, Oregon 179: Byron’s Cason Newton earned medalist honors with a 40 at Silver Ridge Golf Course. Oregon’s Jackson Messenger (41) was runner-up, followed by Brogan Wilkinson (44), Nole Campos (45) and Tucker O’Brien (49).
Girls golf
Erie-Prophetstown 205, Oregon 209: Oregon lost a close one to Erie-Prophetstown on Aug. 19. Lillian McWilliams of EP was the medalist with a 44. Aniyah Sarver of Oregon was runner-up with a 45. Also scoring for Oregon was Sarah Eckardt and Hailey-Jane Becker with 50s and Toni Withers carded a 64.
Byron beats Oregon by tiebreaker: Both teams shot a 202 at Silver Ridge, but it was Byron that came out on top via tiebreaker by its fifth golfer’s score. Oregon, which has only four golfers, was led by Sarah Eckardt’s medalist-earning 43, followed by Aniyah Sarver (48), Hailey-Jane Becker (49) and Toni Withers (62).
Photo provided by Andy Eckardt
Oregon’s Jackson Messenger (left) and Nole Campos took first as a duo Aug. 24 at the Roger Keller Classic in Sandwich.
CLASSIFIED
Part Time Farm Truck and/or Tractor Drivers for Fall Harvest or Yea r Round. Flexible hours. Experience req. 815-499-0463
FALLS
EFFICIENCY -Furni shedUtili ti es incl. $175/wk. 815-626-8790
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OG LE COUNT Y, ILLINOIS PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Pla intiff, vs. JON J. HUNLEY; KATRINA R. LEACH; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendant(s)
CASE NO. 2024FC1
Prop erty Address: 526 N. 8th Street Roche lle, IL 61068
NOTICE OF SHERIFF SALE
Pub lic notice is hereby given that in pursuance of a judgment of said Court entered in the above-entitled cause on April 5, 2024, I, Sheriff Bri an VanVickle of Ogle County, Illinois, will hold a sale on September 20, 2024, commencing at 10:00AM, Ogle County Sheriff's Office, 202 S 1st Street , Oregon, IL 61061, to sell to the highest bidder or bidders the following desc ribed real estate, or so much thereof as may be sufficient to satisfy said decree, to wit: Commonly known as: 526 N. 8th Street , Rochelle, IL 61068
P.I .N.: 24-24-310-007
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OG LE COUNT Y, ILLINOIS
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC, PLAINTIFF, VS.
HEATHER B BONNELL A/K/A HEATHER BONNELL A/K/A HEATHER BROOKE BONNELL A/K/A HEATHER B ETES A/K/A HEATHER ETES; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, DEFENDANTS
NO. 23 FC 68
1120 WESTVIEW DRIVE ROCHELLE, IL 61068
NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE UNDER ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE ACT
August 23, 30, 2024 September 6, 2024 ROCK
2nd Lien Position; Single Family Residence; Judgment Amount $85,502.44 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 735 ILCS 5/15- 1507(c) (1)(H- 1) AND (H-2), 765 ILCS 605/9 (G)(5) , AND 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1), YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE PURCHASER OF THE PROPERTY OTHER THAN A MORTGAGEE, SHALL PAY THE A SSESSME NTS AND LEGAL FEES REQUIRE D BY SUBSECTIONS (g)(1) AND (g)(4) OF SECTION 9 AND THE ASSESSMENTS AND COURT COSTS REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (g-1) OF SE CTION 18.5 OF THE ILLINOIS CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY ACT.
Terms of Sale: CASH - 10% down at the time of sale and the balance du e wit hin 24 hours of the sale. All payments for the amount bid shall be in certified funds payable to the Sheriff of Ogle County.
If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale may be entitled at most only to a return of the purchase price paid The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee's attorney, or the court appointed selling officer.
The person to contact for information regarding this property is:
Sales Department at Diaz Anselmo & Associates, LLC, 1771 West Diehl Road, Suite 120, Naperville, IL 60563, (630) 453-6960. For bidding instructions, visit www.dallegal.com 24 hours prior to sa le
This communicat ion is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Diaz Anselmo & Associates, LLC 1771 West Diehl Road, Suite 120 Naperville, IL 60563 (630) 453-6960 midwestpleadings@da ll egal.com
August 16, 23, 30, 2024 945404
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Forecl osure and Sale ente red by the Court in the above entitled cause on March 25, 2024, will on October 4, 2024, in the Ogle County Sheriff's Office, Main Lobby, 202 South First Street, Oregon, IL 61061, at 10:00 AM, sell at public auction and sale to the highest bidder for cash, all and singular, the following described real estate mentioned in said Judgment, situated in the County of Ogle, State of Illinois, or so much thereof as shall be suffi cient to satisfy said Judgment:
TAX NO 24-23-228-002
COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 1120 Westview Drive Rochelle, IL 61068
Description of Improvements: The prope rty is a single family. The property has a two car garage. The garage is detached. The exterior is aluminum siding. The color is white. The gas is on. The water is on The property does not have a fence. The vacancy is unknown for this residency.
The Judgment amount wa s $170,460.11.
Sale Terms: This is an "AS IS" sale for "CASH" . The successful bidder must deposit 10% down by certified funds; balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. NO REFUNDS
The subject prope rty is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments or special taxes levied against said real estate, water bills, etc., and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to pla intiff. The sale is furthe r subject to confirmation by the court Upon pay ment in ful l of the bid amount, the purchaser shall rece ive a Certificate of Sale, which will entitle the purchaser to a Deed to the r eal estate after confirmation of the sale
The property will NOT be open for ins pection. Prospecti ve bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information
The successful purchaser has the sole responsibili ty/expense of evicting any tenants or other individuals presently in possession of the subject premises.
If this prope rty is a condomi nium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, othe r than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fee s required by The Condominium Prope rty Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).
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 SECTIO N 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
For Information: V is it our website at http://ilforeclosuresales.mrpllc.com
Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m only - McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff's Attorneys, 1 N. Dearborn St., Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel. No. (312) 3469088. Please refer to file# 23- 16695IL
PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT, THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Pla intiff's attorney is not required to provide additional information other than that set forth in this notice of sa le I3241603
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF OGLE - OREGON , ILLINOIS
U.S BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVID UAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2021-GS1 PLAINTIFF;
vs. JEFFREY L BEAUCHEM AKA JEFFREY BEAUCHEM; CITY OF OREGON; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; DEFENDANTS;
23 FC 5
NOTICE OF SHE RIFF'S SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of For eclosure entered in the above entitled cause the Sheriff of Ogle County will on September 20, 2024, at the hour 10:00 a.m. in the Sheriff's office, 202 S. 1st Street, Oregon, IL 61061, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following descr ibed mortgaged real estate: P.I .N. 16-03-119-001.
Commonly known as 311 N. 4th St., Oregon, IL 61061.
The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds.
The property will NOT be open for ins pection. Prospecti ve bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information
For informati on call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorne y, Potestivo & Associates P.C., 223 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 610, Chicago, IL 60606. (248) 853-4400 ext 1200. 3103 53 SHERIFF I3249514
August 16, 23, 30, 2024
ANNUAL FALL HAZEL HURST CONSIGNMENT
VIRTUAL AUCTION
Location - Midway between Polo, IL and Milledgeville, IL on the Polo- Milledgeville Ro ad. (17748 W Milledgeville Road, Polo, IL 61064). In Polo on IL 26, turn west on Oregon Street (Polo-Milledgeville Rd) In Milledg eville on IL 40, tur n east on Polo-Milledg eville Road Off road par king at entrance on west side of site. See advance sale bills/pictures on our website at topauctions24-7.com/ paspolo & auctio nzip.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 , 2024 8:30 AM
Will start on Live Auction smaller items at 8:30, L awn & Garden at 12:00 noon - Vehicles at 2:00 PM
While Virtual/Online items west side of driveway starting with Augers at 8:45 AM Online Bidding available through EquipmentFacts starting at 8:45 am www.EquipmentFacts.com For registration questions, please contact EquipmentFacts at 908-788-2025 or Braydan Beiswanger at 260-760-4036 Online Buyer Premium charged Live Simulcast bidding day of sale and prebidding available ahead of auction.
A large selection of Tractors, Skid loaders, Construction Equip, Tillage & Plant ing Equip, Forage & Harvesting Equip, Wagons, Feed Wagons, Augers, Vehicl es, Trailers, Mowers, Blades, Miscellaneous. Brief l ist below. So much m ore! '94 JD 6200 open station, 3250 hrs w /JD 620 ldr, 2WD, 7' bucket, one owner * JD 2040 * JD 15 20 w/loader * JD 2010 ldr (not running) * Case 60XT skid loader, cab w/heat * Dresser TD 25C bulldozer * Cub Lowboy 185 w/59” mower (not running) * JCB 2155 4x4 backhoe, ext-a-hoe, cab & heat, 4 in1 bucket, 2800 hrs AGT Ind H13R mini excavator, cab, tracks & thumb * JD & IH combines, heads * wagons, grain carts * tillage, planting, forage equipment * Miscellaneous equipment * Vehicles & trailers * Lawn & Garden * lots of mi sc
“Small Closeout”
JD 60, PS (#6055375) * JD GM, new tires (20548)
JD B for parts * JD B, elec start, not run ning (165281)
JD B, new eng ine & tires (73171) * JD A slant dash, elec start, new tires (558670) * '48 AC WD (35403) w eak hyd pump
Case Century 2B plow on steel * Case 2B plow on rubber
JD 555 3B hydraulic plow * Dearborn 2B plow 3pt AC 2B plow, snap coupler * IH wheel disk 10', new blades
Drag w/evener * Flar e box on JD gear * Pressure w asher *
'02 GMC 2500 4x4, 175,000 miles * '24 Wesco trailer
James Dewey-Owner
Auctioneers:
Polo, IL 6106 4
Lenny Bryson (IL#440.0000158) 815- 946-4120 * Mark Ebert (IL#440.0000341) * Brent Schmidgal * Adam John son * Hank Hol m
Clerks: Public Auction Service: Lyle (IL#440.0000185) & Sheryl & John Hopkins 815- 946-2660 * 815-441-1251 * 815-994-1836
Terms - Cash, good check or credit card - Master Card, Visa, and Discover (with a 3% convenience fee). All items must be settled for day of sale. Number system will be used, have drivers license. Not responsible for accidents or mer chandise after sold. [Insuran ce on all items covered by seller till sold, then become responsibility of new proper ty owner] Sales Tax will be charged on all appropriate items. PPE requirements are reco mmended!
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OG LE COUNT Y, ILLINOIS PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC, PLAINTIFF, VS.
HEATHER B BONNELL A/K/A HEATHER BONNELL A/K/A HEATHER BROOKE BONNELL A/K/A HEATHER B ETES A/K/A HEATHER ETES; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, DEFENDANTS
NO. 23 FC 68
1120 WESTVIEW DRIVE ROCHELLE, IL 61068
NOTICE OF SALE PURSUANT TO JUDGMENT OF FORECLOSURE UNDER ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE ACT
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Forecl osure and Sale ente red by the Court in the above entitled cause on March 25, 2024, will on October 4, 2024, in the Ogle County Sheriff's Office, Main Lobby, 202 South First Street, Oregon, IL 61061, at 10:00 AM, sell at public auction and sale to the highest bidder for cash, all and singular, the following described real estate mentioned in said Judgment, situated in the County of Ogle, State of Illinois, or so much thereof as shall be suffi cient to satisfy said Judgment: THE SOUTH 70 FEET OF LOT 16 IN BLOCK 2 IN WESTVIEW SUBDI VISION IN THE CITY OF ROCHELLE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN BOOK H OF PLATS, PAGE 4, IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE; ALL SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF FLAGG, C OUNTY OF OGLE AND STATE OF ILLINOIS
TAX NO 24-23-228-002
COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 1120 Westview Drive Rochelle, IL 61068
Description of Improvements: The prope rty is a single family. The property has a two car garage. The garage is detached. The exterior is aluminum siding. The color is white. The gas is on. The water is on The property does not have a fence. The vacancy is unknown for this residency.
The Judgment amount wa s $170,460.11.
Sale Terms: This is an "AS IS" sale for "CASH" . The successful bidder must deposit 10% down by certified funds; balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. NO REFUNDS
The subject prope rty is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments or special taxes levied against said real estate, water bills, etc., and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to pla intiff. The sale is further subject to confirmat ion by the court
Upon pay ment in ful l of the bid amount, the purchaser shall rece ive a Certificate of Sale, which will entitle the purchaser to a Deed to the r eal estate after confirmation of the sale
The property will NOT be open for ins pection. Prospe cti ve bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information
The successful purchaser has the sole responsibility/expense of evicting any tenants or other individuals presently in possession of the subject premises.
If this prope rty is a condomi nium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, othe r than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fee s required by The Condominium Prope rty Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).
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 SECTIO N 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
For Information: V is it our website at http://ilforeclosuresales.mrpllc.com
Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m only - McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff's Attorneys, 1 N. Dearborn St., Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602. Tel. No. (312) 3469088. Please refer to file# 23- 16695IL
PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT, THE PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
Pla intiff's attorney is not required to provide additional information oth er than that set forth in this notice of sa le I3241603
August 23, 30, 2024 September 6, 2024
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FOR OG LE COUNT Y, ILLINOIS - CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVIN GS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST K, Plaintiff, vs. KEVIN D. RUNDALL; KELEI M. RUNDALL; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ACTING THROUGH THE RURAL HOUSING SERVICE; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-REC ORD CLAIMANTS, Defendants.
_________________________________/
Case No.: 2024FC40
Property Address: 501 S Division Ave., Polo, IL 61064
NOTICE BY PUBLICATION NOTICE IS HE REBY GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWING, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS defendants, that this case has been commenced in this Court against you and other defendants, as king for the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage conveying the premises described as follows, to wit:
Lot Ten (10) in Block Four (4), excepting the West 26 feet of said Lot, in Chatfield's Addition in the Town, now City, of Polo, according to the Plat thereof recorded in Book A of Miscellaneous on Page 111 in the Recorder's Office of Ogle County, Illinois; situate d in the Township of Buffalo, the County of Ogle and Sta te of Illinois.
Commonly known as: 501 S Division Ave., Polo, IL 61064
Names of the titleholders of record: KEVIN D RUNDALL.
Date of the Mortgage: July 3, 2014.
Name or names of the mortgagors: KEVIN D. RUNDAL L; KELEI M. RUNDALL.
Name of the mortgagee: RANLIFE, INC..
Date and place of recording: July 9, 2014; Office of the Recorder of the De eds of Ogle County, Illinois
Identification of recording: Document No. 201403694. NOW THEREFORE, unless you file your answer or otherwise file your appearance in this case, on or befor e Se ptember 29, 2024, A JUDGMENT OR DECREE BY DEFAULT MAY BE TAKEN AGAINST YOU FOR THE RELIEF ASKED IN THE COMPLAINT.
E-filing is now mandatory with limited excep tions To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/service-provider s .htm to learn more and to selec t a service provider If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http:// illinoiscourts.gov/self-help or talk with your local circuit clerk's office. If you cannot e-file, you may be able to get an exemption that allows you to file in- person or by mail. Ask your circuit clerk for more information or visit www.illinois legalaid.org. For information about defending yourself in a court case (including filing an appearance or fee waiver), or to apply for free legal hel p, go to www.illinoislegalaid.org You can also ask your local circuit clerk's office for a fee waiver application.
PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTIO N PRACTICES ACT, THE PLAIN TIFF'S ATTORNEY IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTIN G TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY IN FORMATION WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Service Emails: dreyes@lenderlegal.com EService@LenderLegal.com LLS11882-IL - RUNDALL _s/ David Reyes, Esq. David Reyes, Esq. Counsel of Record for Plaint iff ARDC # 6340981
Au gust 30, Sep tember 6, 13, 2024
IN THE CIRCUIT
COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
In the interest of: Ezariah Thomas, a minor
Case No: 2024 JA 1 NOTICE BY PUBLICATION
To: Any and all unknown fathers , respondent(s), and to all whom it may concern, take notice that on February 5, 2024, a petition was filed under the Juvenile Court Act by ASA R. Russo, In the Circuit Court of Ogle County entitled “In the interest of Ezariah Thomas, a minor”, and that in courtroom 304 at 106 South Fifth, Oregon, Illinois on October 15, 2024 at 10:15 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. 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 20th day of August, 2024.
Kimbe rl y A. Stahl/JB Clerk of the Circuit Court
CHILDREN
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 20th day of August, 2024.
Kimbe rl y A. Stahl/JB Clerk of the Circuit Court
By:
Jordan Blume, Deput y Clerk
August 30, Sept. 6, 13, 2024
Publication Notice of Court Date for Request for Name Change (Mi nor Name Change) In the State of I llinois, Ci rcui t Court, Ogle Coun ty 24MR28 REQUEST OF:
Whitney Marie Kochsmeier TO CHANGE NAMES OF MINOR CHILDREN
There will be a court date on a Request for Name Change (Minor Children) for this child:
Current Name of Minor Child:
Kaiden Heath
Johnson Propos ed New Name of Minor Child:
Kaiden Heath Kochsmeier
There will be a court date on a Request for Name Change (Minor Children) for this child:
Current Name of Minor Child:
Kaiden Heath
Johnson Propos ed New Name of Minor Child:
Kaiden Heath
Kochsmeier
The court date for the Request I filed is s ched uled on:
9-18-2024 at 9:00
A.M. at 106 S 5th St., Oregon IL, Courtroom 304
Remote court options:815.732.1130
Aug. 23, 30, Sep. 6, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICE
United Lost Lake Property Owners
As sociation is currently seeking requests for bids for the 2024-2025, 2025-2026, & 2026-2027 SNOW REMOVAL SEASONS. Thi s year the association voted to approve 3-year contracts.
contracts.
Bid packets will be provided on reques t by visiting the ULLPOA office loca ted at 903 Missouri Drive, Dixon, IL 61021, contacting the ULLPOA office at 815/652-4491, or via email at office @discoverlostlake .org ULLPOA office hours are 9AM to 3PM MondayFriday. All bids will be due no later than 3PM Monday, September 16th, 2024, at the ULLPOA offi ce. All bids should be returned sealed in the envelope provided
As sumed Name Publication Notice Public Notice is hereby given that on August 19, 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:
Petitions for the April 1, 2025
By: Jordan Blume, Deput y Clerk
August 30, Sept. 6, 13, 2024
solidated Election are from November 12 through November 18, 2024. Office to be elected for is a six-year term as Trustee Polo Fire Prote ction District. Petitions may be picked up at Polo Ambulance Garage, Monday through Fr iday from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m Any questions pleas e call 815-440-1371.
Aug. 30, Sept. 6, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICE
The ULLPOA will choose the winning bid at the Saturday, September 21st, 2024, POA Board Meeting. The contractor will be notified the following week. Any questions should be directed to the Roads Chairmen Scott Johnson at 815/910-0900 or Jim Kellen at 815/440-1381.
Pine Creek Farm Stand loca ted at 7674 W Pines Rd Polo, IL 61064
Dated August 19, 2024.
Laura J. Cook
Laura J. Cook Ogle County Clerk
Aug. 23, 30, Sept. 6, 2024
Noti ce to P ick Up Petitions for the April 1, 2025 Consol idated El ection
Consol idated El ection Polo Fire Prote ction District would like to notify the citize ns of Polo that petitions may be picked up and circulated for the April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election, starting August 20, 2024, Monday through Fr iday from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m at the Polo Ambulance Garage, 109 E Colden St. Filing dates for candidates for the Consolidated Election are from November 12 through November 18, 2024. Office to be elected for is a six-year term as Trustee Polo Fire Prote ction District. Petitions may be picked up at Polo Ambulance Garage, Monday through Fr iday from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m Any questions pleas e call 815-440-1371.
This is to notify all registered voters of the Village of Mt Morris, that the following is a list of vacancies for the Village Board that wi ll appear on the April 1, 2025, Consolidated Election
One (1 ) Village Pre sident
4-year term
This is to notify all registered voters of the Village of Mt Morris, that the following is a list of vacancies for the Village Board that wi ll appear on the April 1, 2025, Consolidated Election
One (1 ) Village Pre sident
4-year term
Three (3) Village Trustee
4-year term
Two (2) Library Trustee
6-year term
Petitions are available from the Village Clerk starting August 20, 2024. The Village of Mt Morris will be accepting nomination papers from candidates for municipal office from November 12 - November 18, 2024, at 5 PM
will be
cepting nomination papers from candidates for municipal office from November 12 - November 18, 2024, at 5 PM
Anyone interested in r unning for the above positions can pick up the petitions in the Village Clerk's Office Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, 105 W Lincoln Street
Brooke Duffy Village Clerk For questions please call 815-734-6425
August 30, Sept. 6, 2024
Don't need it? Sel l it!
Place a classified ad with us! 833-584-NEWS
Three (3) Village Trustee
4-year term
Two (2) Library Trustee
6-year term
Aug. 30, Sept. 6, 2024
Aug. 16, 23, 30, Sept. 6, 13, 2024
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF OGLE - OREGON , ILLINOIS
The court date for the Request I filed is s ched uled on:
Anyone interested in r unning for the above positions can pick up the petitions in the Village Clerk's Office Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, 105 W Lincoln Street
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OG LE COUNT Y, ILLINOIS
PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Pla intiff, vs. JON J. HUNLEY; KATRINA R. LEACH; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendant(s)
CASE NO. 2024FC1
Brooke Duffy Village Clerk For questions please call 815-734-6425
PLAINTIFF; vs.
9-18-2024 at 9:00
A.M. at 106 S 5th St., Oregon IL, Courtroom 304
Remote court options:815.732.1130
Aug. 23, 30, Sep. 6, 2024
U.S BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVID UAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2021-GS1
JEFFREY L BEAUCHEM AKA JEFFREY BEAUCHEM; CITY OF OREGON; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; DEFENDANTS; 23 FC 5
NOTICE OF SHE RIFF'S SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of For eclosure entered in the above entitled cause the Sheriff of Ogle County will on September 20, 2024, at the hour 10:00 a.m. in the Sheriff's office, 202 S. 1st Street, Oregon, IL 61061, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following descr ibed mortgaged real estate:
P.I .N. 16-03-119-001.
Bid packets will be provided on reques t by visiting the ULLPOA office loca ted at 903 Missouri Drive, Dixon, IL 61021, contacting the ULLPOA office at 815/652-4491, or via email at office @discoverlostlake .org ULLPOA office hours are 9AM to 3PM MondayFriday. All bids will be due no later than 3PM Monday, September 16th, 2024, at the ULLPOA offi ce. All bids should be returned sealed in the envelope provided The ULLPOA will choose the winning bid at the Saturday, September 21st, 2024, POA Board Meeting.
LOT 1 EXCEPTING THE SOUTH 3.2 FEET THEREOF IN BLOCK 65, OF B.T. PHELP'S ADDITION TO THE TOWN, NOW CITY OF OREGON; IN OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Commonly known as 311 N. 4th St., Oregon, IL 61061.
Polo Fire Prote ction District would like to notify the citize ns of Polo that petitions may be picked up and circulated for the April 1, 2025 Consolidated Election, starting August 20, 2024, Monday through Fr iday from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m at the Polo Ambulance Garage, 109 E Colden St. Filing dates for candidates for the Consolidated Election are from November 12 through November 18, 2024. Office to be elected for is a six-year term as Trustee Polo Fire Prote ction District. Petitions may be picked up at Polo Ambulance Garage, Monday through Fr iday from 9:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m Any questions pleas e call 815-440-1371.
The real estate is: single family residence. If the subjec t mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for ins pection. Prospecti ve bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information
The contractor will be notified the following week. Any questions should be directed to the Roads Chairmen Scott Johnson at 815/910-0900 or Jim Kellen at 815/440-1381.
Aug. 16, 23, 30, Sept. 6, 13, 2024
August 16, 23, 30, 2024
Aug. 30, Sept. 6, 2024
For informati on call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorne y, Potestivo & Associates P.C., 223 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 610, Chicago, IL 60606. (248) 853-4400 ext 1200. 3103 53 SHERIFF I3249514
Prop erty Address: 526 N. 8th Street Roche lle, IL 61068
NOTICE OF SHERIFF SALE
August 30, Sept. 6, 2024
Pub lic notice is hereby given that in pursuance of a judgment of said Court entered in the above-entitled cause on April 5, 2024, I, Sheriff Bri an VanVickle of Ogle County, Illinois, will hold a sale on September 20, 2024, commencing at 10:00AM, Ogle County Sheriff's Office, 202 S 1st Street , Oregon, IL 61061, to sell to the highest bidder or bidders the following desc ribed real estate, or so much thereof as may be sufficient to satisfy said decree, to wit:
Petitions are available from the Village Clerk starting August 20, 2024. The Village of Mt Morris will be accepting nomination papers from candidates for municipal office from November 12 - November 18, 2024, at 5 PM
LOT ONE (1) IN BLOCK FIVE (5) IN POWELL'S ADDITION IN THE TOWN OF LANE, NOW THE CITY OF ROCHELLE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN BOOK A OF MISCELLA NEOUS AT PAGE 474, IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE IN OGLE COUNTY, ILLINO IS; SITUATE D IN THE COUNTY OF OGLE AND STATE OF ILLINOIS Commonly known as: 526 N. 8th Street , Rochelle, IL 61068 P.I .N.: 24-24-310-007
Anyone interested in r unning for the above positions can pick up the petitions in the Village Clerk's Office Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, 105 W Lincoln Street
2nd Lien Position; Single Family Residence; Judgment Amount $85,502.44 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 735 ILCS 5/15- 1507(c) (1)(H- 1) AND (H-2), 765 ILCS 605/9 (G)(5) , AND 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1), YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE PURCHASER OF THE PROPERTY OTHER THAN A MORTGAGEE, SHALL PAY THE A SSESSME NTS AND LEGAL FEES REQUIRE D BY SUBSECTIONS (g)(1) AND (g)(4) OF SECTION 9 AND THE ASSESSMENTS AND COURT COSTS REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (g-1) OF SE CTION 18.5 OF THE ILLINOIS CONDOMINIUM PROPERTY ACT.
Brooke Duffy Village Clerk For questions please call 815-734-6425
Terms of Sale: CASH - 10% down at th e time of sale and the balance due within 24 hours of the sale. All payments for the amount bid shall be in certified funds payable to the Sheriff of Ogle County.
August 30, Sept. 6, 2024
If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale may be entitled at most only to a return of the purchase price paid The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee's attorney, or the court appointed selling officer
The person to contact for information regarding this property is:
Sales Department at Diaz Anselmo & Associat es, LLC, 1771 West Diehl Road, Suite 120, Naperville, IL 60563, (630) 453-6960. For bidding instructions, visit www.dallegal.com 24 hours prior to sa le
This communicat ion is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Diaz Anselmo & Associates, LLC 1771 West Diehl Road, Suite 120 Naperville, IL 60563 (630) 453-6960 midwestpleadings@da ll egal.com 8190-945404
August 16, 23, 30, 2024 945404
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