Mtmt 051718

Page 1

Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967

MT.Times MORRIS

May 17, 2018 Volume 51, Number 31 - $1.00

On to State

Grad Section

Third on the List

Two individuals and a relay team have qualified for the girls state track meet. B1

Ogle County seniors are set to graduate this month. Insert

The Black Hawk Statue finishes third in a statewide contest for most scenic spot. A8

Too few apply for county committees and boards By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com The recurring problem of too few people stepping up to serve on local boards and committees is once again plaguing the Ogle County Board. “We have several vacancies again,” Vice Chairman John Finfrock, of Mt. Morris, said at Tuesday’s meeting. After the meeting Finfrock pointed to the Ogle County Civic Center Authority Board and the Franklin Grove Fire Protection District Board, which both have had vacancies for several months and no applicants to fill them. “We’re looking for people who are

willing to serve our communities, that’s what it comes down to,” he said. The county board appoints the members of several county-wide boards such as the 911 Emergency Telephone System Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Regional Planning Commission, Board of Review, Civic Center Authority, Board of Health, Mental Health 708 Board, Farmland Assessment Review Board, Housing Authority, Soil & Water Conservation District Board, and Sheriff’s Merit Commission, and also local boards including several fire protection district boards, the Byron Museum District Board, and the Lost Lake River

Conservancy District Board. Some of are paid positions, while others are not. In recent years, people aren’t always coming forth to apply. Over the years, fire boards have often had seats that went unfilled for several months. While some fire board are appointed by the county board, others are elected by voters within their districts. Having an elected, rather than appointed, board takes a referendum. Several years ago, the nine-member Ogle County Civic Center Authority Board went for a few years with no one applying for sometimes as many as five

vacancies. That problem was resolved in 2015 when several Rochelle residents agreed to serve, but has once again become a problem in recent months. Current vacancies include two seats on the Mental Health 708 Board, two on the Board of Health, five on the 911 ETS Board, three on the Civic Center Authority, and one each on the Byron Museum District, Housing Authority, and Franklin Grove Fire Protection District Board. Finfrock said most of the boards do not require a lot of time, and the application process is simple. Those interested must submit an

application which is reviewed by the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s & Juvenile & Probation Committee. That committee then schedules individual interviews with applicants and makes a recommendation to the county board, which makes the final decision. The county board announces vacancies and makes appointments on a monthly basis. Finfrock said anyone interested in applying should call the County Clerk’s office at 815-732-1110 for more information. The deadline to apply for the current vacancies is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 1.

Course owner offers $400K to fix Taft statue By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com

The former Quad Graphics printing plant was purchased earlier this month by Phoenix Investors, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo by Vinde Wells

Former printing plant sold for $200K By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The long shuttered printing plant in Mt. Morris has changed hands once again. The former Quad/Graphics printing plant was purchased May 4 by Phoenix Investors, a Milwaukee-based investment

firm. According to property transfer documents filed Monday with Ogle County Clerk & Recorder Clerk & Recorder Laura Cook, the 644,000 square-foot plant property at 404 S. Wesley Ave. was purchased for $200,000 by Phoenix Mt. Morris LLC, an affiliate of Phoenix Investors.

Phoenix purchased the property from Mt. Morris Business Park LLC, Downey, Calif., which has no connection to the Village of Mt. Morris. According to a recent article in the Milwaukee Business Journal, Phoenix Investors specializes in buying large, vacant industrial buildings, updating them, and leasing them

to new tenants. Patrick Dedering, Phoenix Vice President of Leasing, said Tuesday that his company’s plans for the building include renovation. “We take under utilized former manufacturing facilities and renovate them,” he said. The properties are then Turn to A3

Ribbon cutting held for new addition at White Pines Resort By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com

The ribbon was cut Monday signaling the official opening of the newly expanded White Pines Resort playhouse and retreat center. WPR President Elizabeth George was also celebrating 30 years as the concessionaire at the lodge within the White Pines State Park. “After 30 years, it was time to rejuvenate here,” George said at Monday’s ribbon-cutting. “It’s now a showcase for the

state and a place everyone can be proud of.” The expansion means a brand new stage with stateof-the art lighting and sound, seating for 40 more guests in the dining room, with the goal of creating a retreat center to attract corporate groups. Ground was broken last October for the expansion of the dinner theater and lodge, and the project was completed late last year. At the ground-breaking, George announced that the Beth George, President of White Pines Resort, cuts the Turn to A2

In This Week’s Edition...

ribbon with Wayne Rosenthal, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director. Photo by Zach Arbogast.

Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4

Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 Senior Center News, A3 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4

A Shabbona business owner has made an offer to fund repairs to the Black Hawk statue, and state officials have agreed to consider it. Bruce Novak, owner of the Indian Oaks Golf Course at Shabbona, said Monday that he recently emailed State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) with an offer to donate $400,000 toward the cost of repairing the iconic concrete statue in exchange for a 50-year lease on 100 acres of Shabbona Lake State Park. Novak said his nine-hole golf course adjoins the state park, and he wants the additional acreage to expand to 18 holes. “I think it’s a win-win for everybody,” he said. “I was looking for 100 acres to use for the golf course. It’s a win-win for Black Hawk, for my golf course, and for the Shabbona state park.” He has proposed paying $1 a year for the 50-year lease. The statue is located in Lowden State Park, near Oregon, and both it and Shabbona Lake State Park are under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Novak said he emailed Demmer after hearing him say at a recent press conference that donations are being accepted to complete the repairs to the statue. Demmer said he met with IDNR officials Tuesday afternoon and they have agreed to consider Novak’s offer. “The department [IDNR] is willing and interested in reviewing this idea,” he said. “It’s an outside the box proposal.” The IDNR has set up lease agreements for property in other state parks, he said, and has asked Novak to submit a formal proposal outlining the exact acres he wants. IDNR officials will review the formal proposal to determine the short and long-term impacts to the environment, wildlife and habitat, and park operations. “Pending the outcome of the

Sports, A10, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, 5 Zoning, B5

Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com

This photo of the Black Hawk statue was taken before it was covered with a protective wrap when restoration efforts stalled. Photo by Earleen Hinton

review, they may go ahead,” he said. “It’s encouraging that the IDNR is willing to look at this.” Demmer said he spoke with Novak after the meeting to let him know the outcome. He said the IDNR is also considering other options. Oregon Together, a volunteer organization, recently formed a Black Hawk Restoration Team with the goal of raising the estimated $500,000 still needed to repair the statue’s crumbling surface. Roger Cain, a member of Oregon Together, said he has spoken with Novak about his offer, but declined to comment on the proposal until he has more information. Created by sculptor Lorado Taft in 1910 as a tribute to Native Americans and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009, the 48-foot statue needs the repairs due to the ravages of weather and time. The landmark was unveiled and dedicated in 1911, and sits on a 125-foot overlooking the Rock River. Over the years, despite numerous repair efforts, parts of the statue have crumbled and fallen off. Winter weather has been especially devastating. For the past four years it has been encased in protective wrap. IDNR officials recently agreed to remove the black plastic that has enveloped it since November of 2016 sometime this month.

Deaths, B5 Dorothy M. Gilbert Francis C. Oltmanns


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.