Serving the Mt. Morris area since 1967
MT.Times MORRIS
July 13, 2018 Volume 51, Number 39 - $1.00
Fawn Rescue
Vintage Ball
At the Band Shell
A Polo farmer finds a lively fawn in a 12-foot hole while mowing a waterway. A3
The Ganymedes defeat Somanauk at the Chana School Museum Field.. B2
Webb Wilder takes the stage at July 20 Jamboree; soloists perform with the Kable Band July 18. A6&A7
Heat and rain can’t stop 4th of July activities By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The 4th of July shows in Mt. Morris went off as planned last Wednesday despite Mother Nature’s whimsy. Neither the participants nor the attendees at the Let Freedom Ring Patriotic Program let the stifling 90 degrees slow them down, although the crowd completely abandoned the benches in front of the band shell on the downtown campus in favor of lawn chairs in the shade.
That evening, the fireworks crowd simply opened their umbrellas when a rainstorm sidled through mid-show. The Patriotic Program honored the Kable Concert Band and its contributions throughout its 122-year history. The band headed the LFR Grand Parade as its marshals. Speaker Sarah Gray, a U.S. Air Force flight nurse during the Vietnam War, recounted the military service of the band. “The purpose of a military band is to entertain the troops,” she said. Turn to A3
Sarah Gray, the speaker at Let Freedom Ring’s Patriotic Program on July 4, uses a towel to wipe her face as temperatures climbed into the 90s. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Etnyre to donate $100,000 for statue By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The fundraising efforts for the Black Hawk statue’s repairs got significant boost last week when a local manufacturer announced its plans to make a large donation. E.D. Etnyre & Co. will contribute $100,000 toward the cost of restoring the 107-yearold landmark that overlooks the Rock River from a high bluff at Lowden State Park, just east of Oregon. “As two of the community’s oldest residents, both the Eternal Indian and E. D. Etnyre & Co. have called the community of Oregon home for over 100 years; without either the community would just not be the same,” said Robin Etnyre, Corporate Communication Specialist. “For this reason, E. D. Etnyre & Co. is pleased to support the Oregon Together Black Hawk Team in the preservation of this historical landmark.” Jan Stilson, chairman of the Black Hawk Restoration Team expressed her committee’s appreciation. “Thank you very much for supporting us,” she said. “I Elliot Armstrong, 4, of Loves Park, takes a spoonful of a snow cone during the Let Freedom think it’s wonderful. It shows Ring Festival on July 4. Photo by Earleen Hinton Turn to A2
Icy treats give relief to 4th of July walkers and joggers Brenda Baal has been handing out ice pops for 5 years By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A Mt. Morris woman and her family provided cool relief from the sweltering heat for anyone
participating in the July 4 Lois Nelson Memorial Walk and Run. Brenda Baal along with her husband, daughter, sister, and nieces and nephews handed out ice pops to all takers as they walked or jogged past her house on East Center Street on the last leg of the four-mile route. “I was hoping you would be here,” one walker called out to Baal as she approached her house. “I need one — I’ll take a green one,” exclaimed a jogger, slowing
Emily Baal and Caroline Kalnins, 3, offer Carla Hill an ice pop as she walks by the Baal home on July 4. Hill was participating in the Lois Nelson Memorial Walk and Run. Photo by Vinde Wells
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B8 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
her pace enough to choose her favorite from a rainbow of flavors. The cool treats were especially welcome with the temperature approaching 90 and the humidity at 70 percent. Baal said she began handing out ice pops about five years ago after her hairdresser Joann Canfield suggested it. “One year after the 4th Joann said ‘hey I walked by your house the other day. You should pass out Popsicles like they do in Rockford.’ I thought it was a good idea and we’ve been doing it ever since,” Baal said. “It’s fun. People love it. It’s a good way to cool them off,” she said. “It’s a good way to meet people. As long as we live here we’re going to keep doing it.” Baal prepared the ice pops by cutting off the tops of the plastic packages while her daughter Emily Baal nephew Kenny Kalnins stood next to the street handing them out to the passing walkers and runners with the help of grandnieces Abigail and Caroline Kalnins, ages 8 and 3. Her husband Chuck made sure the cooler stayed well supplied with ice pops. The memorial walk is held annually in memory of the late Lois Nelson. It follows the four-mile route she walked every day. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics and Mt. Morris’ Let Freedom Ring festival.
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3
Brenda Baal cuts the ends of ice pops to ready them for walkers and runners coming past her house July 4 during the Lois Nelson Memorial Walk and Run. Visiting with her is her niece Lynn Kalnins, one of the walkers. Photo by Vinde Wells
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Deaths, B4 Ronald J. Davis, Michael H. McNett, Diane M. Welenc
Published every Friday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com