Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS
June 29, 2018 Volume 51, Number 37 - $1.00
Pound the Pavement
Farm History
At the Band Shell
The Lois Nelson Memorial Walk and Fun Run is Wednesday, July 4 in Mt. Morris. A6
Take a look back at farms and families in Century of Farming. Special Section
Pablo & the Rhythmix performs June 29 & the Kable Band plans a July 4 patriotic concert at DLR. A2
Let Freedom Ring to celebrate emerald anniversary By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Mt. Morris has a lot to celebrate this 4th of July. Besides the 242nd birthday of the nation, this year marks the 200th anniversary of Illinois statehood, the 122nd year since the Kable Concert Band was organized, and the 55th anniversary of the Let Freedom Ring
festival itself. All three events will be saluted during the festival, which will be held July 4-8. In recognition of the festival’s emerald anniversary, the LFR Committee has chosen “4th of July in the Emerald City” as the 2018 theme. LFR Chairman Tiffany West said a variety of new and traditional events are planned for festival attendees. “We have live entertainment at the
band shell, knockerball, kids games, a petting zoo, good food, and we’re bringing back bed races,” she said. “We’re just trying to fill the campus with fun activities for adults and kids. We’ve got a lot going on.” Activities on the 4th begin with the 39th annual Mt. Morris Firefighters Association breakfast served from 7 to 11 a.m. at the fire station. Donations will be accepted for a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs,
applesauce, coffee, milk, and orange juice. Breakfast will also be served from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Ogle County Airport on Ill. 64 east of town. The Lois Nelson Memorial Walk starts at 8:30 a.m. at Dillehay Park. U.S. Air Force veteran Sally Gray will be the main presenter at the Patriotic Program at noon at the Reckmeyer Band Shell on the downtown campus.
Gray, a Mt. Morris resident, served as an Air Force Flight Nurse throughout the Pacific during the Viet Nam era. She is currently the chaplain of American Legion Post 143. The Patriotic Program will also present several historical highlights of the Mt. Morris Kable Concert Band, founded in 1897. A special focus will include details of its military service in the Pacific Turn to A3
Resident wants village spruced up By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews. com A lifelong Mt. Morris resident voiced her concern to the village board Tuesday evening about how some residents are letting their property become unkempt. Salley Wessels said she has noticed that some yards aren’t being mowed, junk is allowed to accumulate, and apparently abandoned vehicles are parked
illegally. “I think what we’re missing is pride,” she said. “I’d like to register a complaint.” Wessels said she would like any village ordinances that govern those matters to be enforced. “If there are ordinances…we can do something about it,” she said. Village trustee Phil Labash, who was acting as village president pro tem in the absence of village president
Dan Elsasser, agreed. In his two terms on the board, he said the issue has been frequently discussed. “Ordinance violation is something we’ve been wrestling with,” he said. He said the board has taken steps to remedy the problem by hiring the Ogle County State’s Attorney to prosecute the offenders in court, at a considerable cost savings over having the village attorney take Turn to A3
Plans underway for repairs By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Tough Runner Kelci Foss, 22, of Mt. Morris, watches her step as she nears the finish line at the KB Tough Run on June 23. Foss finished first in her age division for women in the 5K. A story and more photos appear on B2. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Plans are being completed and the paperwork is in progress for restoration work to finally begin on the Black Hawk statue. State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) said Tuesday that he has been in touch with other Illinois agencies and officials ever since the state budget was approved almost a month ago. The budget included the long-awaited release of a $350,000 grant, from the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, earmarked for the repairs to the deteriorating concrete landmark. Demmer said he has been working closely with the IDNR ever since the budget was approved. “Everything seems to be in
informed him last week that they are working with the concrete mixtures necessary to repair the cracks in the crumbling statue and rebuild areas the chunks that have fallen off. The money should be released sometime after the state’s new fiscal year begins on July 1. Demmer said he does not yet have a date for the work on the statue to begin, but hopes to have that information by June 2 when he comes to Oregon to present the approved budget The Black Hawk Statue. resolution to members of the place ready to go for the grant,” Oregon Together Black Hawk he said. “Work is going on Restoration Team. behind the scenes to be sure the “Hopefully we will have paperwork is complete and the a little bit more of an update forms are filled out. It’s going then,” he said. well. We haven’t run into any The protective tarps were problems.” removed from the statue on The grant was approved in June 1, revealing that it had 2009, but was never paid due to deteriorated in the 18 months it he state’s ongoing budget woes. had been covered by the black Demmer said IDNR officials plastic.
Girls learn to appreciate themselves at 4-day camp By Jessie Kern jkern@saukvalley.com
With the success of the first Strong Girls 2 Women day camp, organizers are planning for a second fourday journey of self-exploration and celebration of girls’ power, and they want to build on the strengths of this year’s camp to make next year’s even better. Strong Girls 2 Women was a four-day camp at Trinity Lutheran Church, 308 E. Brayton Road, for girls going into fourth through sixth grades. Held for two hours each day from June 18 through 21, the camp gave girls the opportunity to explore their inner and outer
strength, uniqueness, self-love and growth, and help them on their journey from adolescents to adults. The camp was led by Adrienne Stafford with help from several high school students. Each day focused on different topics with speakers, crafts and games, all connected to a daily topic. “There are a variety of really great girls camps all over, and I thought we needed one here in town,” said Josh Ehrler, Trinity’s pastor. Congregation members had tossed around the camp idea for three or four years before turning their talk into action and starting the camp. Ehrler and Stafford already
In This Week’s Edition...
are thinking about how to build on the success of this year’s camp. “I already have things up my sleeve for next year,” Stafford said. On Day One, the girls talked about strength and took part in outdoor Olympics-style games and other activities, including a tug-of-war and games with pool noodles. The next day: focusing on the unique qualities that make each girl special. Cassidy Krup, 9, of Oregon, said she learned to always be herself, because “you are you.” “It’s good,” she said. “I like it because there’s a lot of activities.” Arianna Chapa, 9, of Mt.
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Library News, A3
Campers Maya Sotelo, left, 11, of Mt. Morris, Anna Marquardt, 11, of Oregon, and Emmie
Turn to A3 Chapa, 11, of Mt. Morris, work on their self-portraits on June 30. Photo by Alex T. Paschal
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A9 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3
Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Published every Friday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B5 Stephen J. Gecan Mary E. Hoernecke