A ribbon cutting was held on July 19 for the new mural in Byron Page 2 Ordinary Golfer opens in Rochelle
A new business called Ordinary Golfer opened its doors in Rochelle on July 19. Page 2
• Shirley Ann Unger
• Suzanne Kay Colbert
• Tyler Michael Maurer
• Verna J. Watts
• Robert ‘Bob’ John Piros
• Jane Ruth (Beam) Schoon
• Felker Foods
Go to the Rochelle News-Leader or Ogle County newspaper’s website and click on the Best of ad banner or type in: rochellenews-leader.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Ogle-County-2025 to nominate your favorites now!
Lena man identi ed as victim of Tuesday morning plane crash
Crop duster plane crashed, struck power lines
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
MT. MORRIS — The victim of a Tuesday morning plane crash near the Mt. Morris Airport has been identified as a 23-year-old Lena man, an Ogle County Sheriff’s Office press release said Wednesday. At 9:36 a.m. the Ogle County Dispatch Center received a call of a plane crash in the area of 2810 W. Illinois Route 64 just west of the Mt. Morris Airport. A cropduster plane leaving the airport crashed and a single occupant, Alexander Leamon, 23, of Lena was located deceased inside the plane.
The plane hit the main transmission power line on
The victim of a Tuesday morning plane crash has been identi ed as a 23-year-old Lena man, an Ogle County Sheri ’s O ce press release said Wednesday.
the south side of Illinois Route 64, causing “pretty significant damage,” Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Tuesday. The plane had just filled with chemicals and was flying to a field nearby.
VanVickle said the plane was completely engulfed in flames when first responders arrived on scene and
area law enforcement and fire departments saw access issues due to downed power lines. Sheriff’s Office vehicles were able to cut a safe path to the plane fire for fire crews to extinguish it.
The road was closed while infrastructure was repaired.
See PLANE CRASH page 7
Changes Counseling hosts ribbon cutting, ice cream social to mark 15-year anniversary
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
ROCHELLE — On Friday, July 11, a ribbon cutting and ice cream social were held at 604 N. Main St. Suite 4 in Rochelle to commemorate Changes Counseling’s 15-year anniversary.
Changes Counseling
has offices in Rochelle and Peru and offers individual, couples, youth and family counseling to people of all ages.
“It has grown over 15 years,” Owner/Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Christine Novak said.
See CHANGES page 10
(PHOTO BY EARLEEN HINTON)
On July 11, a ribbon cutting and ice cream social were held at 604 N. Main St. Suite 4 in Rochelle for Changes Counseling’s 15-year anniversary.
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
LOCAL NEWS
Ribbon cutting held July 18 for new mural in Byron
BYRON — The City of Byron held a ribbon cutting on Friday, July 18, to celebrate the completion of the city’s fourth downtown mural, Community and Connection, by Byron resident Nicole Arand. It was also an opportunity to recognize the businesses that
generously contributed to the project: Fehr Graham; Byron Bank; Constellation; Loomis International; Sterling Federal Bank;
Ordinary Golfer opened in downtown Rochelle on July 19
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
ROCHELLE — Ordinary Golfer, a new golf simulator business, opened July 19 at 425 Lincoln Highway inside the Lincoln Mall in Rochelle. The business is owned by locals Sam Volkert, Craig Baker and Erik Garcia. Ordinary Golfer features two bays of highend golf simulators. Food is available from nearby Acres Bistro and the business plans to serve beer once its liquor license is approved and in effect, along with other drinks and snacks. Patrons will have access to golf club rentals. Booking of bays can be done online at www. oggolfrochelle.com/
“We want to provide
cheap, comfortable golf for people who may never have done it up to the most seasoned professional,” Volkert said. “You can do some real practicing in here or you can come in and just have fun and learn the game. It’s a really nice, laid back place to come hang out and do some golfing.”
The business is open Tuesday-Friday 4-10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday noon to 10 p.m. Ordinary Golfer is closed on Mondays. Baker and Volkert are longtime friends and began golfing together two years ago. They also recently set up a golf simulator in a friend’s garage for use during the winters rather than driving out of town to more expensive venues. They began discussing the
idea of a golf simulator business and got in touch with Garcia, who came up with the Ordinary Golfer name with a clothing brand in mind.
The golf simulator business has now come to life inside the Lincoln Mall, after Baker sought a location and got in touch with the owner of the building, who desired more recreational businesses in the space.
“I’ve been here 38 years, and usually it’s few and far between whenever we do get something new for entertainment and recreation in town,” Volkert said. “It’s something new for people here to do and something that can bring people into town.” See ORDINARY
Edward Jones, Charles Schaeffer; JT Designs; Sosnowski Szeto LLP; Stillman Bank, Weezy’s Sports Bar & Grill; and
Byron Forest Preserve District. The mural can be seen on the west side of the Bub’s building located at 135 N. Union St. Special
thanks go to Mayor John Rickard and the Byron City Council, Matt Pendergrass, and the Painters District Council #30 Local 607.
Sycamore-based Junk Removal Dudes works in local area
BY JEFF HELFRICH MANAGING EDITOR
SYCAMORE — Junk Removal Dudes started part-time with a borrowed SUV and a small wooden trailer 12 years ago. The business that serves the area has now grown to as many as 400-500 customers a month, and utilizes four new dump trucks.
Junk Removal Dudes is owned and operated by Sycamore native Alex Broches, a graduate of Sycamore High School, Kishwaukee College and Northern Illinois University. The business removes junk from garages, basements, crawl spaces or attics of homes and cleans out storage units, warehouses, restaurants or hoarding situations. It also offers commercial cleanouts. Customers can call or text pictures of their junk to 815-757-9696 and receive a quick quote or visit www. TheJunkRemovalDudes. com.
Junk Removal Dudes has done a lot of work in the Rochelle and Ogle County area along with the DeKalb/ Sycamore area and recently has branched out more into the suburbs. The business began when Broches was struggling to find steady work after college.
“I asked my grandfather initially about junk removal and was thinking about doing it part-time to make extra money,” Broches said. “My mom cleaned homes part-time and asked if I
Junk Removal Dudes started part-time with a borrowed SUV and a small wooden trailer 12 years ago. The business that serves the area has now grown to as many as 400-500 customers a month, and utilizes four new dump trucks.
knew anyone to move junk for elderly clients. I borrowed my grandfather’s old SUV and attached a wooden trailer to it. It took a while for things to pick up. The truck would break down and we were leading and unloading the truck by hand for a lot of years. It started out as a little way to make extra money. I wasn’t planning on it getting big, but it blew up a few years ago.”
Broches said Junk Removal Dudes has seen many unique items and situations over the years including finding love letters from the early 1900s, items that have been lost for 60+ years, weapons, and a large mannequin. Junk Removal Dudes posts its findings on its Instagram and Facebook pages.
The business has also
done a celebrity home cleanout, has cleaned out abandoned homes and has helped customers with numerous hoarding situations.
“Employees find cool things and enjoy that part of the job,” Broches said.
“In abandoned homes sometimes we find good stuff. We try to donate and recycle everything we can. If we find items or clothes in good shape, we donate them. If the local organizations don’t want it, we offer it to employees. We try our best to recycle as much as possible. If we find something that looks like it may be important or valuable, we make sure we check with the customers before we throw it away.”
See JUNK REMOVAL DUDES page 11
Pictured, from left to right: Herb Santiago (alderman, City of Byron); Jessica Nehring (alderman, City of Byron); Jen Baker, Scott Mincemoyer, Dana Leombruni, Jenn Holley, Sean Considine, Katie Klingle (Byron Bank); Charles Schaeffer (Edward Jones); Emily Bolen, Renae Stevens (Stillman Bank); Ashlyn Berogan (Sterling Federal Bank); Doug Wilken (alderman, City of Byron); John Rickard (mayor, City of Byron); Nicole Arand (artist); Caryn Huber (city clerk, Byron); and Michelle Lorenz (executive director, Byron Chamber of Commerce).
(COURTESY PHOTOS)
(COURTESY PHOTO)
Ordinary Golfer, a new golf simulator business, opened July 19 at 425 Lincoln Highway inside the Lincoln Mall in Rochelle.
(PHOTO BY JEFF HELFRICH)
LOCAL NEWS/OBITUARIES
July 11, 12, and
2025 ByronFest Quilt Show results released
BYRON — ByronFest’s Cacciatore Quilt Show was held at the Byron Museum of History July 11, 12, and 13. Special thanks to Wanda Murphy Cacciatore for spearheading this quilt show since 1987! Ribbon winners were selected by a judge and viewers voted for their favorite quilt and wall hanging to win the “People’s Choice” awards at
the end of ByronFest. The main categories include; Antique Quilts, Wearable Art, Wall Hangings, Just For Show, and quilts identified by technique, such as Hand, Machine, and Commercially Quilted. Cash Prizes and Blue Ribbons were awarded for first place in each of categories and ribbons awarded to second and third place winners.
This year’s People’s
Choice ribbon winners are Caryl Brix & Cindy Sjostrom!
First place ribbon winners include: Caryl Brix, Liz Palmer, Jeannine Price, Judy Hill Stran, and Vikki Wadsworth. Second place winners” Caryl Brix, Phyllis Campbell, Kristy Dunham, Linda Egeland, and Jeannine Price. Third place: Kristy Dunham, Linda Egeland, and Cindy Sjostrom.
levels
Ogle County 4-H Fair Food Decorating Contest award winners named
OREGON — This
year’s Ogle County 4-H Food Decorating Contest was held at the Ogle County Farm Bureau in Oregon on Tuesday, June 17. From colorful frostings to fondant designs and edible decorations, these young bakers demonstrated a wide range of decorating techniques. Whether they’re beginners, intermediate, or advanced decorators,
all levels of 4-H participants showed off their decorating skills in front of a judge. This event was open to the public to attend.
Top of Class Food Decorating, Beginning: Mackenzie Taylor, Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club (Kings)
Top of Class Food Decorating, Intermediate: Alayna Doane, Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Davis
Junction)
Top of Class Food Decorating, Advanced: Elizabeth Kennedy, Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club (Davis Junction)
Grand Champion Food Decorating Exhibit: Alayna Doane, Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Davis Junction) Reserve Grand Champion Food Decorating Exhibit: Mackenzie Taylor, Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club (Kings)
We wouldn’t have a quilt show without the area quilters and collectors that chose to enter their handmade treasures; Caryl Brix, Cathy Wells, Cindy Sjostrom, Jeanie Behrens, Jeannine L Price, Judy Gettle, Judy Hill Stran, Kristy Dunham, Linda Egeland, Liz Palmer, Mary Daniel, Megan Sieberg, Miriam Bruening, Nancy Piper, Pat Felton, Phyllis Campbell, Ruth Whitney, Sandy
Hillis, Vikki Wadsworth. Thank you!
If you are interested in volunteering at the museum, scheduling a tour, or have any questions, please call the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday 815-2345031 or send an e-mail to director@byronmuseum. org.
The Byron Museum of History is dedicated to preserving the Byron
area’s rich history through exhibits, programs, and artifact preservation. The Museum Complex consists of a large exhibit hall with varied displays, the old Byron Theater, and encompasses the historic Read House - which is a listed site on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Located at 110 N. Union St., Byron IL 61010. www. byronmuseum.org.
Verna J. Watts
MT. MORRIS — Verna J. Watts, age 92, passed away peacefully at her home in Mt. Morris on Sunday, July 20, 2025. She was born January 9, 1933, in Pine Rock Township, Ogle County, IL the daughter of William and Frances (Linde) Bolhous. Verna graduated from Oregon High School in 1950. She married Ralph Watts on July 18, 1954.
She began her career in banking as a teller at Ogle County National Bank immediately after high school, retiring as vice president in 1993 from the same establishment then known as Rock River Bank. Verna found great joy in spending time with her family. Verna was a fabulous cook. She especially enjoyed cooking family favorite dishes and was known for her fabulous potato salad. She enjoyed working in her yard, continuing to push mow well into her 80’s and running the snow blower. She enjoyed tending to her flowers, maintaining the bird bath for her feathered friends, and keeping them fed, especially the humming birds. Upon retirement, she volunteered at the Mt.
Morris Moose Club and Oregon Healthcare Center.
She volunteered at Emmanuel Lutheran Church to fix weekly meals when they started their Logos program.
She was predeceased by her parents, William and Frances Bolhous, husband, Ralph Watts, brothers Willis, Walter and Ralph Bolhous, sisters Marion Lambert and Sylvia Newcomer, granddaughter Laurie Watts Wagner and step daughter Judith Dudley.
Verna is survived by her children Jeff (Denise) Watts, and Vicky (Ray) Beard, Oregon, IL, step-children Roland (Linda) Watts, Roger Watts, Joyce (Larry) Davis all of Oregon, sister Bertha Kennay of Rice Lake, Wisconsin and brother Lawrence (Doris) Bolhous of Oregon, IL, her grandchildren from oldest to youngest, Paul Race, Lindy Watts, Michael Davis, Kelly Beeter, Lisa Watts-Madolora, Peter Race, Kristy Watts, Jason Beard, and Curtis Watts, several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
The family extends their sincere appreciation to
Pastor Andrew Kayes for his continued support and friendship, and to Mary Pendleton NP, Serenity Hospice and Home, for her compassionate care and support.
Funeral Service will be held at 2:00PM, Sunday, July 27th, 2025 at Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 South 7th Street, Oregon, Illinois with Rev. Andrew Kayes, pastor of Paynes Point Emmanuel Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from noon to 2:00PM.A private burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Morris, IL. A memorial fund is established in Verna’s name for Serenity Hospice and Home, Oregon, IL and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Paynes Point, IL of which she was a member for her entire 92 years. Visit www.farrellhollandgale.com to leave a condolence or memory of Verna.
ByronFest’s Cacciatore Quilt Show was held at the Byron Museum of History
13. Special thanks to Wanda Murphy Cacciatore for spearheading this quilt show since 1987!
(COURTESY PHOTOS)
All
of 4-H participants showed off their decorating skills in front of a judge at the 4-H Fair Food Decorating Contest. Left to right: Alayna Doane, Mackenzie Taylor, Elizabeth Kennedy, and Anna Herring.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
OBITUARIES/LOCAL NEWS
Shirley Ann Unger
ROCHELLE — Shirley Ann Unger, age 82, passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025 at the Rochelle Community Hospital.
She was born on December 16, 1942 in Oregon, IL, the daughter of John and Catherine (Meyer) Ennenga. She married Roger Dean Unger on July 16, 1960 in Oregon, IL. Shirley loved spending time with her family, playing bingo and listening to her extensive collection of country music records. She is preceded in death by her parents, 2 infant brothers, sister, Betty Roberts, and 3 additional brothers: John, Roy and Curtis Ennenga.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Roger Unger of Rochelle; daughter, Brenda (Brian) Jones of Machesney Park, IL; son, Lloyd (Shirley) Unger of Sycamore; 5 grandchildren: Roger (Lauren) Unger, Susan (Kyle) Fitzgerald, Alicia Lynch, Justin Lynch and Cory Lynch; 6 great grandchildren; and 2 sisters: Mary Shook and Katherine Ennenga. There will be no service. Cremation rite and care is being provided by the Unger Horner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle.
Guest book www.UngerHorner.com
Polo’s Clark named to President’s List at Iowa State University
AMES, Iowa — The following students were named to the President’s List at Iowa State University. Students achieving this presti -
gious designation have maintained a 4.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters.
Polo: Harper Leigh Clark
DeVoe named to Eastern Illinois University Spring 2025 Dean’s List
CHARLESTON —
Robert ‘Bob’ John Piros
WEST BEND, Wis.
— Robert “Bob” John Piros, 78, formerly of Stillman Valley, Illinois, and Chana, Illinois, currently residing in West Bend, WI, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025, surrounded by the family and friends whose lives he brightened with boundless curiosity, and a deep love for nature.
Born in Gary, Indiana, on August 28, 1946, to the late John Julius Piros and Mary Louise (Koscel) Piros, Bob grew up roaming the streets and discovering the wild spaces in Homewood, Illinois. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School—earning a few memorable knuckle raps from the nuns—before graduating from Homewood Flossmoor High School and pursuing his passion for science and the outdoors at Northern Illinoi s University. He received his masters degree in outdoor education from NIU’s Lorado Taft Field Campus.
of Meridian Junior High during the Fall Festival. He believed every child deserves a moment of awe in the wild and spent evenings and weekends making sure they got it.
Bob had a gift for inspiring courage. Whether leading students deep into the echoing darkness of a cave or helping them rappel down a cliff—or even the side of their school— he encouraged countless young people to confront their fears and discover their strength. One of his most memorable teaching assistants was Kahn, his beloved Florida king snake, who lived in the classroom terrarium. For many students, holding Kahn for the first time was a rite of passage— equal parts thrill, fear, and pride. Passing Kahn from hand to trembling hand, he taught hundreds of middle-schoolers that understanding beats fear every time.
a fishing partner, pingpong rival, mentor and friend. Their weekly visits, ping pong games, home-cooked meals and stories enriched his later years immeasurably.
When Bob wasn’t teaching or coaching, he could be found kneedeep in coneflowers with the Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County, fishing on any nearby body of water, spending time with his grandchildren and family, or hosting friends for pingpong in his barn—where newcomers received the same warm welcome and spirited competition as his oldest friends.
Eastern Illinois University is proud to recognize academic excellence by naming high achieving students to the Spring 2025 Dean’s List. This honor recognizes students who have achieved a GPA of 3.8 or higher and is a testament to these Panthers’ dedication to academic excellence.
Danisha DeVoe of Monroe Center, an Interdisciplinary Studies major.
Polo’s Faivre receive honors at Drake University
DES MOINES, Iowa
- The following local students have been named to the Deans’ and President’s Lists at Drake University.
Polo: Anna Faivre, Pharmacy & Health Sciences, President’s List
Bob devoted 35 years as an 8th-gra de science teacher in Stillman Valley, where his classroom rang with energy, wonder, and the chorus of “Drop and give me 50!” His famous push-up policy kept inattentive students on their toes (literally) while his gift for hands-on science turned countless kids into lifelong learners.
To be eligible for the Deans’ List, students must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the Spring 2025 semester at Drake.
To be eligible for the President’s List, students must have earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the Spring 2025 semester at Drake.
Ever the coach, Bob built Stillman Valley’s wrestling program into a powerhouse and founded the high-school Outdoor Club, leading annual adventures that became local legend: spelunking at Maquoketa Caves State Park, canoeing the Boundary Waters, rappelling at Starved Rock, and even lowering students down the side
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The Ogle County Life/ Rock Valley Shopper USPS (004-083) ISSN (1045-3059)
Published every Monday by Rochelle Newspapers, Inc. at 211 Hwy. 38 East, Rochelle, IL 61068-1183. Subscriptions in our service area are free on a requester basis. Periodicals Postage Rates paid at Rochelle, IL 61068. Postmaster send address changes to the Ogle County Life/ Rock Valley Shopper, P.O. Box 175, Rochelle, IL 61068-9801. The circulation department is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have carrier delivery and your paper fails to arrive by 7 p.m. on Monday, telephone our office at 732-2156, if your paper fails to arrive by mail telephone our circulation office at 562-4171, ext. 112. For subscriptions, call the LIFE office at 815-732-2156.
In addition to his work in education and the outdoors, Bob was a committed advocate for civic engagement. He served for many years as the precinct chairperson for the Ogle County Democrats, believing deeply in the importance of participation, representation, and standing up for one’s values. Whether knocking on doors, organizing local meetings, or helping others navigate the voting process, Bob brought the same energy and integrity to democracy as he did to the classroom—always informed, always passionate, and always rooted in community.
Bob and his first wife, Judi, raised three daughters—Nikki, Sandy, and Cindy—who inherited his love of science and outdoor adventure. In 1994, Bob married teacher Sherry Hagemann, his soulmate in prairie wanderings and word-play. Together they traded the Latin names of prairie plants like sweet nothings and wrote limericks to mark anniversaries. They made many trips, including to the Boundary Waters, where they found joy in quiet paddles, morning mist, and the echoing call of loons. In their final years, they were torn apart by circumstance, yet their love remained unwavering—like loons calling to one another across great distances.
Bob’s circle of love extended far beyond bloodlines. To Dwayne “PeeWee” Shaw (Kate) and their daughters Annie and Maggie, he was
He is survived by daughters Nikki Piros (Sean) of Lake Tahoe, CA, Sandy Mikesell (John) of Greenwood Village, CO, Cindy Raimer (Bob) of West Bend, WI, grandchildren Addison, Emma, Sophie, Lukas, and Nadia, brothers Jim (Ruth) Piros and Mark (Ann) Piros, sisters Julie Diskin and Laura McCarver, nieces Rose Diskin and Kate Koenig, nephews Eric and Jack Piros and John Koenig, “Honorary family” Dwayne “PeeWee” Shaw (Kate), Annie, and Maggie, treasured fishing buddies, including “The Matts” and numerous students, wrestlers, Outdoor Club alumni, teaching colleagues and prairie friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Mary Koenig, brother-in-law John McCarver and his beloved wife Sherry Piros.
In the final four years of his life, as Bob lived with frontotemporal dementia, he continued to find deep joy in time spent with his beloved grandchildren— Addison, Emma, Sophie, Lukas, and Nadia. Ever the competitor, he still managed to leave his daughters and grandkids in the dust at the bowling alley. Bob could always be counted on to dance with his granddaughters and show off his moves. Together, they shared a peaceful kayak trip to the blue holes of Big Cedar Lake, crisp hikes through the autumn colors at Riveredge Nature Center, enjoyed releasing sturgeon at SturgeonFest, feeding the chickadees at Harrington Beach State Park, and a memorable Christmas road trip to Colorado listening to John Denver on the radio. Though dementia gradually dimmed Bob’s memory, the moments of joy, laughter, and connection will last as treasured memories to his grandchildren.
Bob’s family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care he received at The Cottages in West Bend, the Aurora Grafton 3rd floor nursing team, and from Kathy’s Hospice during his final days. In his last hours, he was exactly where he belonged— outdoors, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature, with cranes and wild turkeys nearby and birdsong in the air. Even at the end, he remained connected to the wild world he loved so deeply. A celebration of Bob’s life will be held Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 from 2-6 p.m. at the Jarrett Prairie Center in Byron, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to The Conservation Fund, ensuring future generations discover the wild joy Bob shared so freely. https://donor.conservationfund.org/-/ NXBAZPYQ?member=SPQGWGDQRobert Piros Memorial Fundraiser - https://donor.conservationfund.org/-/NXBAZPYQ
Bob often told his students, “Look closely— there’s an entire universe under every rock.” He lived by that belief, reminding all of us that the best moments are found not on a screen, but under open skies, in shared laughter, and on winding trails with the people we love. He created lasting memories through simple joys—like games and storytelling around the campfire or initiating new Outdoor Club members with a legendary “snipe hunt”. These moments weren’t just fun—they were Bob’s way of building wonder, connection, and community.
As John Muir once wrote, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” In honor of Bob’s legacy, may we each take time to step away from our devices, step into the natural world, and rediscover the joy of connection—both to the earth and to one another. Go outside. Hold hands. Tell a story. Watch the stars. That’s where he would be.
OBITUARIES/LOCAL NEWS
Jane Ruth (Beam) Schoon
OREGON — Jane Ruth (Beam) Schoon, 88, passed away peacefully at the Serenity Hospice and Home of Oregon, IL, on Friday, July 18, 2025. Born in Zearing, Iowa, December 31, 1936, to Ruby and Homer Beam. Jane attended elementary, high school, and college in Iowa Falls, Iowa, graduating from Ellsworth College with an associates degree in Elementary Education. Jane loved growing up on a farm. In the summers of 1955 and 1956, she worked in New York City at a camp for under privileged children. On June 19, 1957, she married Ronald Schoon. They resided in New Orleans, LA, where her husband was stationed in the army. Jane especially enjoyed teaching Sunday school on the military base. After leaving the army, her husband was a field rep for super value grocery stores. There were transferred often and resided in many states. Jane enjoyed learning about different traditions and foods in each of the states they resided. She especially enjoyed living in the New England states. Jane cherished the friendships she made along the way. She and her husband put down roots in Byron in 1971. Jane was an amazing mother, raising two chil-
dren: daughter Dana Jane, born in Hampton, Iowa and son Saul Ronald, born in Wilmington, Delaware. Her children will miss her love, compassion and beautiful soul. Her favorite role was the joy she found in raising her children. Jane worked as a teacher’s aide at Highland Elementary in Stillman Valley and Mary Morgan Elementary in Byron. During her 25year tenure, she touched the lives of many children with her patience and compassion. Jane cherished her bond with those she worked side by side with, developing meaningful and lifelong friendships with Mary, Teresa, Marie and Kathy. Jane had a special place in her heart for her siblings: James, Craig, and Linda. She enjoyed extended family gatherings and spending time with her sister. Jane had many fond memories of family reunions at the pond. Fun memories were made many summers when nieces and nephews came to stay with Aunt Jane. Jane always said her grandchildren were special gifts of love. She had many adventures and laughs with them and even convinced them that she painted the sunsets just for them. More love and joy came with each
great-grandchild. Jane is preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived and missed dearly by her children Dana (Ken) Norup of Byron, IL; Saul (Kristin) Schoon of Gilbert, AZ; brothers James Beam and Craig (Sharon) Beam; sister Linda (Terry) Carelton; grandchildren, Noel ( Binoy) Kamel, Briar (Colin) Wray, Kip (Kathryn) Norup, and Britt (Alisa) Schoon; great-grandchildren, Naveen, Nithin and Arvin Kamal; Jackson and Lily Wray, Kenna Norup, and Wesley and Levi Schoon. A private family memorial services is scheduled at this time. Jane will be laid to rest with her husband at Byron Township Cemetery of Byron, IL. Memorial donations in her name may be directed to Serenity Hospice and Home of Oregon, IL. To leave an online condolence or plant a tree in her memory please visit www.farrellhollandgale. com
Tyler Michael Maurer
ROCKFORD
— Tyler
Michael Maurer, 22, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on July 21, 2025. Tyler was born in Rockford to Tyrone “Ty” Maurer and Merideth “Merri” Maurer on May 12, 2003. Tyler was kindhearted, with the occasional sarcastic remark. He always had a smile on his face. Tyler loved to spend time at Wisconsin Dells, and also loved the experience he had going out west to see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Whenever he got the chance, he loved spending
time and swimming at his grandparents’ house.
Above all else, Tyler enjoyed spending time on his PlayStation 5 with games such as Call of Duty, GTA 5, and Minecraft to name a few.
He is survived by his parents, Ty (Melissa) Maurer and Merri Maurer; siblings, Taylor Lawrence, Sierra Maurer, Johnathon Lewis, Stephanie Lewis, and Stacy Lewis; grandparents, Michael and Dawn Maurer, and Gerald and Nancy Lawrence; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other
extended family members, and friends; furry friends, dogs, Gracie and Itty Bitty, cat, Cookie, who he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Marie Lawrence.
Tyler was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Gardens privately surrounded by his family.
Suzanne Kay Colbert
WASHINGTON, D.C.
— With the death of Suzie Colbert, a mother lost her best friend and sunshine of her life. The world also lost a true globetrotter and beam of pizzazz.
Suzanne Kay Colbert died in a multiple-vehicle accident near the Washington D.C. area where she resided and was based as a flight attendant for United Airlines.
Suzie was born on July 30, 1964, the daughter of Joel J. and Eleanor “Bobbie” M. (Goettle) Colbert in Champaign, Illinois. Her formative years were spent in Rochelle, Illinois, and a place she always loved to return for visits with family, old friends and watch Hub football.
Growing up under “Coach Colbert”, Suzie developed an emotional attachment to football. It carried throughout her life, so much so that she arranged flights that would put her in the nexus of major NFL games. A more rabid fan of the sport would be hard to find.
Suzie was also had a fond appreciation for learning, starting as a kid at Tilton grade school. Eventually, she earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Hawaii, all the while living in Honolulu and working at United.
Her primary occupation was a long career as a flight attendant, but did take a 4-year voluntary furlough after 9-11 to teach English and literature to students of different nationalities. She frequently substitute
Locals
GALESBURG —
High-achieving students were named to the Knox College Dean’s List for the 2025 Spring Term. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must have earned at least 2.5 credits in the term, with a grade point average of 3.6 or better (on a 4.0 scale).
This spring, 420 students earned Dean’s List honors, including Jed
taught and had the heart of an educator.
A lighter side of her emphasis on learning came from an ambition to be on a game show. As an undergrad at NIU, she majored in general studies, reasoning that knowing a little bit about everything would help her chances to make the bright lights of television.
Besides Arlington, VA and Honolulu, HI, Suzie spent several years in Los Angeles, never making it to the big time, but embracing a venue much different than rural Ogle county. That was theme for her, as she traveled the world over and easily assimilated into its people and culture.
Once, she moved in with a family in Guatemala and learned to speak Spanish. Or, a trip to Italy would be made to learn cooking techniques.
Rather than be a consumer of travel, she was a giver. Meeting new people wherever she went, Suzie desired to serve others. No matter one’s skin color, religion, age, ethnicity or education, Suzie was there for you.
As an advocate for peace and justice, she fought for social and political causes and wasn’t shy about sharing her viewpoints. The D.C. area was particularly fascinating to her and she jumped headlong into the fray, often peddling her bike to wherever the action was.
Though she lived an adventurous life, she also found joy in simple things. In contrast to the zest of
being at a Super Bowl or Wimbledon in London, Suzie could just as easily be found visiting the great churches and cathedrals of the world.
A practicing Catholic, Suzie was a follower of Jesus. As the outpouring from co-workers all over the globe testify, she lived it out in every aspect of her life, both on and off the job with them.
Suzie is survived by her mother Bobbie of Rochelle, IL; sister Jodi (Brett) Kemp of Stevensville, MT; brothers Andy Colbert of Oregon, IL; Bo (Cindy) Colbert of Trinity, NC; Tony (Catherine) Colbert of Florence MT. She was deceased by her father Joel Colbert and sister-inlaw Kathy Colbert. She was a fun-filled aunt to Matt (Ceren) Kemp, Ryan Kemp and Lindsay (Kevin) Brown; Blair Colbert and Jorie (Carlton) Getz; Anthony Colbert and Mallory (David) Garten; Mia and Madi Colbert; and a great aunt to Alexandra and Liliya Getz. Though never married, Suzie loved each as her own, leaving an indelible mark. But, that was the case with everyone she encountered.
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
Bothe of Oregon and Luke Mathieu of Byron.
named to Knox College Spring Dean’s List
VIEWPOINT
"Congress shall make no law. . . abridging the freedom of speech or of the press"
MOMENTS IN TIME
* On Aug. 11, 1806, while hunting for elk along the Missouri River, Meriwether Lewis was accidentally shot by one of his own men, likely Private Pierre Cruzatte, though Cruzatte, who was blind in one eye and nearsighted in the other, denied it. Historians suspect he mistook the leather-clad Lewis for an elk. Lewis made a full recovery.
* On Aug. 12, 1994, Major League Baseball players went on a strike that lasted for 232 days and caused the cancellation of that year’s World Series for the first time in 90 years.
* On Aug. 13, 1941, Henry Ford displayed his “Soybean Car,” the plastic body of which was partially composed of the legumes. It weighed half as much as a steel-bodied car and Ford claimed it was safer, but the model never actually went into production.
* On Aug. 14, 1985, the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson, bought the publishing rights to the vast majority of the Beatles’ catalog for a cool $47 million. After his death, Sony, one of his primary creditors, assumed full control of the catalog.
* On Aug. 15, 1950, Princess Anne, the second child and only daughter of England’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, was born. She has long been widely admired for her seemingly tireless work ethic (she does not plan to retire until she’s 90) and involvement with more than 300 charities, as well as her general practicality and reliability.
* On Aug. 16, 1987, a plane crash at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Michigan killed 156 people, including Nick Vanos, a center for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, and left just one survivor, 4-year-old Cecelia Cichan of Tempe, Arizona. The accident was determined to have been caused by pilot error, with speculation that the pilots might have been rushing their pre-flight checks to avoid incoming bad weather.
* On Aug. 17, 1977, the day after Elvis Presley died, FTD delivered more than 3,100 floral arrangements, not only cleaning out Memphis-area florists, but setting a record for the most flowers sold in America in just one day.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Letter: Ban steer tailing
DEAR editor, The brutal “steer tailing” event is not a standard ranching practice anywhere in the U.S. It was outlawed in Alameda County, California in 1993, and by the State of Nebraska in 2008. Other jurisdictions should follow suit.
“Steer tailing” is horrendously cruel (see the many YouTube videos if in doubt). Steers’ tails are routinely broken, stripped to the bone (“degloved”), even torn off. The lack of enforcement of local anti-cruelty laws is reprehensible. Perhaps some civil disobedience and a lawsuit or two would help resolve this no-brainer.
Consider the following excerpt from a 1990 letter that Cesar Chavez wrote to
Published every Monday Jeff Helfrich, Managing Editor
The Ogle County Life is a division of News Media Corporation.
Vladimir Putin’s March of Folly
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin might profit from reading Barbara Tuchman’s book, “The March of Folly.” It was published in 1984, well before Mr. Putin’s time in office, but that last word— folly—is well suited to his invasion of Ukraine.
Ms. Tuchman’s book is about leaders who clung to failing policies, why they did so, and the price they paid. She devoted large sections to Britain’s war with America during the Revolution, and America’s war in Vietnam. Each is a case study in delusion, arrogance, and dogged persistence in fruitless strategies, as is true of Russia in Ukraine today.
Britain’s and America’s descents into folly began with faulty assumptions about what they were fighting for. British leaders insisted that their government had the right, the responsibility, and the necessity to tax the colonies. Leading American politicians held to the so-called domino theory, the conviction that a Communist victory in Vietnam would lead step by step to world-wide Communist domination.
Britain and America entered these conflicts with a sense of superiority toward the people they encountered in those far-off lands, and underestimated their enemies’ military
Action for Animals: “Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock fighting, bullfighting and rodeos [emphasis added] are cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves.” Words to live by.
Eric Mills, coordinator, Action for Animals, Oakland, California
capabilities. Their failure to appreciate their opponents’ willingness to absorb heavy losses and keep fighting was an even more costly miscalculation. Britain and the U.S. found themselves, as a result, entangled in “forever wars” with enemies who simply refused to give up against superior military power.
Russia began its war in Ukraine under its own set of faulty assumptions, one of them being that an independent and pro-Western Ukraine on Russia’s border threatened its national security. President Putin also insists that Russians and Ukrainians are one people, and that Ukraine rightfully should be a part of Russia. He and his government expected that the Ukrainian people, their “little brothers,” as they put it, would welcome the Russian army with open arms, instead of the hostility it encountered instead.
than they did. Military superiority isn’t enough for victory in such a situation. The failure of America’s intensive “Rolling Thunder” bombing campaign against North Vietnam demonstrated that reality, as Ms. Tuchman explained.
A government-sponsored survey, conducted in 1966, found that the bombing had no effect on North Vietnam’s economy, military capabilities, or willingness to fight. A similar study at the end of World War II came to the same conclusion regarding Allied bombing of Germany. In each case, the enemy absorbed the casualties, repaired the damage, and kept on fighting.
These attacks on economic and civilian targets, said Ms. Tuchman, “tended to strengthen the fabric, increase popular determination and stimulate protective devices and capacity for repair.”
The misconceptions that the British, the Americans—and now the Russians—harbored at the beginnings of their wars were compounded by failure to understand what they were up against—an opponent that believed it was fighting for its very survival and who therefore had more at stake
Russia’s intensive bombardment of Ukraine likewise appears to be failing to convince it and its people to give up, and is instead hardening their resolve to fight on.
Ukrainian forces on the battlefront have meanwhile imposed extreme costs on the Russians for the meager gains they’ve
made so far in their current campaign—less than 1% of Ukrainian territory according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). It reported at its website on June 3 that Russian casualties in the war would soon reach 1 million, that deaths in the past three years are 15 times those from its 10-year war in Afghanistan, and that its equipment losses are two to five times more than Ukraine’s. Fortune magazine reported on June 22 that the Russian economy is showing the strain of paying for the war, with Russian authorities warning of a coming economic recession.
The war is now one of attrition, a contest to see who’ll be the first to decide that it’s no longer worth the sacrifi ces, and give up. This is what happened when the British finally let go of its colonies, and when the United States retreated from Vietnam. It’s a likely outcome for Russia as well, according to the CSIS—but only if Ukraine continues to receive vital support from the United States.
Lowell Harp is a retired school psychologist who served school districts in Ogle County. His column runs monthly in The Ogle County Life. For previous articles, you can follow him on Facebook at http:// fb.me/lowellharp.
Letter: Conformity and Diversity
DEAR editor, “The little boy went first day of school, he got some crayons and started to draw, he put colors all over the paper for colors was what he saw, and the teacher said what you doin’ young man?
I’m paintin’ flowers he said, she said ..... it’s not time for art young man, and anyway flowers are green and red.” (opening lyrics to Flowers are Red, a song by Harry Chapin, 1978) A chief theme in this song is the societal drive
towards conformity. We are taught and schooled to attain this outlook and demeanor. That is, if you wish to get along and get ahead. It is observable that people who are compliant tend to also be complacent. If your goal in governing is to have quiet, peace, law and order then first seek acquiescence of the population. In the current climate and in an increasing number of cases the government is determining how much
people agree with this direction. If you agree then fine, if you do not you might consider selfdeportation or we may well deport you. There is a shrinking amount of room for people who are different. What to do?
Well, you might want to look around and see how much diversity, variation, and all the colors of the rainbow are such an integral part of our life. Living a monochromatic, uniform, black and white
LIFE letters' policy
existence might be good for consumption, mass production and an orderly society, but it is deadly to the human spirit and a vibrant culture. Democracy is messy because we are diverse. Our variations fuel our imaginations and our wills enabling us to do incredible things. I would much prefer embracing our diversity than trying eradicate it from our common life.
Rev. Ronald Larson, retired clergy, Mt. Morris
Concise letters are most likely to be chosen for publication, but the use of any material is at the discretion of management. All letters must be signed or they will not be considered for publication.
During election times, no letters written by the candidates endorsing themselves will be considered for publication.
Editing may be necessary for space, clarity or to avoid obscenity or libel, but ideas will not be altered. Writers are urged to use discretion and refrain from sarcasm or personal attacks.
Criticism of individuals or organizations that is not broached tactfully will jeopardize the publication of a letter. Letters will be published in the order that they are received, unless there is a time factor involved, space permitting.
Lowell Harp
LOCAL NEWS
PLANE CRASH:
From page 1
There were no injuries to first responders during the incident. The Oregon and Mt. Morris Fire Protection Districts responded to the fire along with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the sheriff’s office, which helped with traffic control.
The FAA and the NTSB have been contacted to respond to the plane crash and the NTSB will investigate it. VanVickle said the NTSB was scheduled to arrive on scene Wednesday. The plane remained on scene with security until investigators arrived.
The power lines that were hit and disabled feed the City of Oregon,
23-year-old man passes away after incident near Mt. Morris Airport
including the Ogle County Courthouse, Judicial Center, the Sheriff’s Office and its telecommunications center. Power to those entities was only lost for a short time due to backup access, VanVickle said.
“Any plane crash is out of the ordinary because we don’t deal with them much,” VanVickle said Tuesday. “When we saw the plane and the fire and its condition we knew it was unlikely for someone to survive it if they were inside and we made sure no one was outside the plane. Then it became about making sure first responders were safe and investigating the situation and what happened.”
Stillman Valley Leos Club donates to Stillman Food Pantry and Cardinal Hope
Brass From The Past to play Mt. Morris Aug. 1
MT. MORRIS — Brass
From The Past “Rock & Soul Revue” A Tribute to the Legends of Rock & Soul make their long-awaited return to perform from 7-9 p.m. on the Mt. Morris Bandshell on Aug. 1. Brass From The Past will take our audience on a musical journey from late 60s into the early 80s...touching on a few 90s and 2000s to end the show. Featuring an unstoppable six-piece horn section, including resident trumpet ace, Terry Connel, a tight fourpiece rhythm section, and
five powerful singers who command the stage. This is no ordinary band! Brass from the Past plays the music of Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Temptations, Michael Jackson, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Prince, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, BS&T, Pattie Labelle, Bruno Mars, Chaka Kahn, O’Jays, Tower of Power and more. Concessions for the evening will be provided by both the Oregon Lions Club, who will be serving Italian beef sandwiches as well as other items, and the Mt. Mor-
ris Moose Lodge, who will serve homemade chicken strips, fries, cheesy fries, and drinks. Just 4 Fun Ice Cream will be there as well, all starting around 5 p.m. Ewe and Me Acres will have a fresh produce stand with a variety of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, jams, jellies and dog treats on the Campus along with other craft and plant vendors from 4-8 p.m. Popcorn Girls Emmie and Lily from the Mt. Morris Center will likely be serving fresh popcorn uptown too.
Encore’s Art Gallery and the Mt. Morris Historical
Museum will be open during concerts on the Campus as well.
Please bring a blanket or
The Oregon and Mt. Morris Fire Protection Districts responded to the fire along with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the sheriff’s office, which helped with traffic control.
(PHOTO BY EARLEEN HINTON)
The Stillman Valley Leos Club made donations to the Stillman Food Pantry and Cardinal Hope. The monies came from fundraisers that the Leo club participated in. The spaghetti supper held in Stillman at the Wooden Nickel and selling and delivering roses for Rose Day are the two biggest fundraisers for the Leo Club. Pictured are two Leo members Brooklyn Lee and Alyse Rogers with Audrey at the Food Pantry and Jen who is chair for Cardinal Hope of Stillman. Please consider donating to these fundraisers next year and all year long as the community benefits from them. (Courtesy photos)
lawn chair, as the benches will likely fill fast, and join us on our Historical Campus, located two blocks south of
Illinois Route 64 on Wesley Avenue and enjoy the free classic rock and soul concert.
Brass From The Past “Rock & Soul Revue” A Tribute to the Legends of Rock & Soul make their long-awaited return to perform from 7-9 p.m. on the Mt. Morris Bandshell on Aug. 1.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Notable Christmas celebrations around the world
IT’S beginning to look a lot like Christmas all over the world. Christmas celebrations include various time-honored traditions that celebrants hold near and dear to their hearts. Depending on where someone lives, their Christmas traditions may look quite different from those in other parts of the globe. It can enjoyable to learn how Christmas is celebrated elsewhere and perhaps even incorporate a few new traditions into your celebrations. Take a peek at these customs near and far.
• Seafood and beachside celebrations: Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, which means Aussies are enjoying the peak of their summer come December 25. A white Christmas is unlikely, unless the “white” refers to white, sandy beaches. Santa is prob-
ably swapping his thick coat for a pair of board shorts, and heavy, roast-laden meals are unlikely to make it on to the menu. Instead, Australians dine on seafood feasts and spend Christmas outdoors camping or at the beach.
• Krampus parade: Some Christmas elves are not so jolly. Just ask residents of the Austrian, German and HungarianAlps. Each year in this region, a true “Bad Santa” is the talk of town. Villagers believed that Krampus, a half-man, half-goat creature with a legion of ill-tempered elves, roamed the mountains wreaking havoc. Krampus was said to abduct miscreants and set unruly youth or even intoxicated adults straight. Today, Krampus is more the “bad cop” to Santa’s “good cop” persona. Krampus is celebrated as an antihero at parades and other events.
• Las Posadas: According to scripture, Joseph and Mary had to make an arduous journey from their hometown to Bethlehem for census purposes while Mary was pregnant. When the couple arrived, they found lodgings were nonexistent, and Mary ended up giving birth to Jesus in a manger surrounded by animals. In celebration of that journey, people in Mexico and Guatemala celebrate Las Posadas, a procession representing Mary and Joseph’s journey and their struggle to find lodging.
• La Befana: In Italian folklore, La Befana is a witch-like old woman who, like Santa, delivers gifts to children throughout Italy. Instead of this gift-giving taking place on Christmas, La Befana hands out gifts on the Epiphany Eve in a similar way to how the Three
Magi brought presents to Baby Jesus. Le Befana also is believed to fly through the night sky to sweep away all the troubles of the old year and clear the way for a fresh start.
• Move over reindeer: Although reindeer often garner fanfare this time of year, the Yule goat is a
Christmas symbol and tradition in Scandinavia and northern Europe. Each year in towns throughout Sweden and other areas, large statues of Yule goats are built on the first day of Advent and stand throughout the holiday season. This tradition dates back to ancient Pagan festivals, and some believe the goat is
connected to the Norse god Thor, who rode in the sky in a chariot pulled by two goats. Holiday traditions differ considerably in various regions of the world. Celebrants may want to consider incorporating foreign traditions into their own Christmas celebrations this year.
Establish Your Care in Our Community
Rochelle Community Hospital is proud to have well-qualified healthcare providers that offer personalized care in our Family Healthcare Clinic, right here in our community.
Our family medicine providers can treat patients of all ages. Whether you or your family simply haven’t had a checkup for a while or are in need of a family medicine provider, we’re just a call or a visit away.
Graham Isaacson, DO Kristi Gonzales, MSPAS, PA-C
Christine Gorman, MD Jason Popp, MD
Kendall Vogeler, MD
Laurie Whelchel, APRN, FNP-BC
How to reduce your risk of being in an auto accident
life for most people. Commutes to work or school, leisure trips or time spent behind the wheel as part of a profession compel people to drive each and every day. Although most trips to the office or the store are uneventful, the risk that something may go awry is present any time a person gets behind the wheel, and drivers need to plan accordingly.
The National Center for Statistics and Analysis says there were approximately 16,200 automotive accidents per day in the United States in 2022, the most recent year for data. This number has steadily risen over the last decade and may be attributable to a number of factors, including increased vehicle usage. Diamond and Diamond Lawyers in Canada says approximately four Canadians die and 175 are injured in impairment-related crashes every day. Though accidents occur every day, drivers can take steps to reduce their risk of being involved in one. Stick to the speed limit Speed limits are posted on roadways for a reason. Exceeding speed limits significantly increases the risk of getting into an accident, and many accidents are directly related to speeding. Slowing down can make roadways safer.
Eliminate distractions
Smartphones, GPS de-
vices, passengers, pets in the car, or anything that causes a person to take his or her eyes off of the road, even for mere seconds, can increase the risk of being in an auto accident. Accident Care and Treatment Center, Inc. says distracted driving is the primary cause of car accidents each year.
Smartphones are a modern distraction, and keeping phones turned off and out of reach can keep drivers safer.
Change your perception
It is important to think of a car or truck as what it truly is: 3,000 pounds or more of fast-moving metal that can cause a lot of damage. Those who do not drive responsibly, or feel they are invincible behind the wheel, could be on a crash course for an auto accident. Treating a vehicle with respect is a must.
Leave a space cushion
Tailgating and aggressive driving maneuvers that do not leave an adequate distance between vehicles can compound the problem of accidents.
Travelers insurance company urges drivers to stay at least three seconds behind the vehicle ahead of them, and longer for those driving heavier vehicles. The timing also should be extended when weather conditions are bad. A significant cushion enables drivers to stop safely or maneuver around to avoid an accident.
Improve visibility
A cracked or dirty windshield or dim headlights can diminish visibility. Being able to see and be seen when on the road is a major contributor to accident risk reduction.
Brush up on skills
Newly minted licensed drivers and older drivers may need a driving skills refresher course. Oftentimes learning how to avoid accidents comes down to experience and defensive driving techniques. Those who feel they may need a little extra practice can enroll in a course. An additional upside is that such a course
also can help reduce insurance premiums.
Know your limitations
Geico notes the risk of a fatal crash is three times higher at night than in the day for every mile driven. Although it may not be possible to avoid nighttime driving entirely, limiting it, particularly for those who have challenges seeing at night or in dim conditions, can help reduce accident risk. The same can be said for staying off of roads in inclement weather.
Don’t drive impaired
Driving while under the influence of drugs (both
illegal and prescription), alcohol and/or other substances greatly increases accident risk.
Various strategies can help drivers reduce their risk of being involved in auto accidents.
JUNK REMOVAL DUDES: ‘I like to see that relief on customers’ faces when they can get out of tough situations’
From page 2
Broches said there’s a lot of demand for the service Junk Removal Dudes provides and he believes 12 years of positive reviews and reputation have helped the business to get more work. Staffing has expanded over those 12 years, which has made Junk Removal Dudes able to take on pretty much any job.
“We’ve had the same core workers for about 10 years now,” Broches said. “We’re not really intimidated by large projects now. We’ve done some pretty good-sized projects that would look impossible to a lot of people. About a month ago we worked at a hoarding situation and as soon as we opened the door, the whole entire house was filled with garbage. We put on suits and got shovels. We had 12 people on that job and got it done in a few days. We’re very motivated, trained and competent now to the point where we can tackle almost anything. Seeing the client happy when we’re all done makes it worthwhile for us. We’ve met so many great clients and people over the years. That part for me is fun, too.”
Broches’ favorite part
about the job is seeing relief on customers’ faces when junk is removed and their homes are cleaned up and they’re able to see the difference. When Junk Removal Dudes encounters hoarding situations, staff provides information on local services to help people who may be dealing with hoarding tendencies if they want it so situations like that don’t happen again.
“We try our best to help out and be professional,” Broches said. “I like to see that relief on customers’ faces when they can get out of tough situations. We come and give the estimate and get the job done and they see the difference. When you see people happy and crying over it, it’s a good feeling. We’re here to help at the end of the day.”
Broches grew up poor with little financial stability. Later on in life, he
struggled to find consistent work after college. He often thinks back on those times and how he delivered pizzas with a college degree and worked other jobs to get by. He’s thankful he found a service the community needs and thanked his employees and the community for the support over the years to build Junk Removal Dudes.
“It’s been a lot of work,” Broches said. “It’s been 60-70 hour weeks. I love what I do and I don’t mind working this much. If someone wants to try something that’s going to benefit people and sees a need, don’t be scared to take a risk and try it. I’ve had numerous dead-end jobs and tried to start other businesses. This was the fifth business I tried after the others failed. And it took off. People should always experiment and take
4-H Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction is Aug. 2
OREGON — The Annual 4-H Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction has been set for Saturday, Aug. 2. It is being held at the Ogle County Fair, 1440 N Limekiln Road in Oregon. The 4-H Auction Committee invites the public to support 4-H project work by bidding on a quality 4-H animal.
The auction starts at 3 p.m. in the Beef Arena. It will feature 4-H market hogs, lambs, beef animals, goats, poultry, rabbits, and dairy baskets as well as the champion and reserve champion beef, swine, lamb, and goat carcasses.
Live animals may be purchased and sent to a locker or may be bought and resold at a slaughterhouse. Transportation to processing plants will be provided. A floor price will be set according to
Byron’s Politsch named to Carthage Spring Dean’s List
KENOSHA, Wis. — Congratulations to the students who have been named to the Carthage College Spring 2025 Dean’s List in recogni -
tion of their outstanding academic achievement! Dean’s List honors are accorded to Carthage students who achieve a minimum 3.5 grade-point
average while carrying at least 12 letter-graded credits in a given semester.
Tyson Politsch from Byron
the current market trends on the day of the auction. A list of current market prices will be available. Champion and Reserve Champion market animals will be sold first. Pork and lamb carcasses will be sold whole. Beef carcasses will be sold in halves.
Auction order is: Beef Carcass, Live Beef, Sheep Carcass, Live Sheep, Poultry, Rabbits, Dairy Basket, Dairy & Meat Goat Weth-
ers, Swine Carcass, Live Swine, Live Beef, Live Swine.
Auction flyers are available in the Ogle County Extension Office, 421 W. Pines Road, Suite 10, in Oregon, and online at https://extension.illinois. edu/bdo/4-h-ogle-county Bidding arrangements can be made for interested parties who are unable to attend. Call 815-732-2191 for more information.
Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
Ogle Jolly 4H club held their 4H Dairy Days at the Royal Blue in Stillman Valley on a very hot Saturday. Information and prizes and gift cards were handed out to customers who came in to beat the heat with delicious ice cream treats. President Aubrey and Vice President Alyse helped to hand out gift cards to the lucky winners. (Courtesy photo)
The Stillman Valley Lions Club donated to the 4H Spin Archery club to help them purchase new targets. Lions President Carol Holstraka presented the check to advisor Beth Kennedy at the Stillman Lions meeting in June. (Courtesy photo)
Stillman Valley Lions Club donates to 4-H Spin Archery Club
Ogle Jolly 4-H Club holds Dairy Days at Royal Blue
Junk Removal Dudes is owned and operated by Sycamore native Alex Broches, a graduate of Sycamore High School, Kishwaukee College and Northern Illinois University.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
From page 2
The golf simulator setup includes projectors, impact screens, and high-end monitors that can read ball data regardless of if the golfer is left or right handed with immediate shot feedback. High-speed cameras allow golfers to review data on and assess their swings. The brand new software includes
the chance to play famous courses such as Pebble Beach.
“We did this specifically for Rochelle,” Baker said.
“There are golf simulators in Rockford and DeKalb, but they’re out of town and usually booked up and expensive and it’s during the winter. We figured we should do it here. I figured if someone else opened one up here, I would go. We
kept the price low because we want people to come and enjoy it.”
The renovation of the 425 Lincoln Highway location began in mid-February. The space was previously a dance studio and Baker, Volkert and Garcia spent three months bringing it to life, working in the evenings after their full-time jobs.
The ownership group
wants Ordinary Golfer to serve patrons of all ages and skill levels, and become a destination and something for people to do in Rochelle.
“We want this to be for everyone,” Baker said.
“We’ll serve some alcohol, but that won’t be the main focus like a lot of golf simulators. If the Rochelle Township High School golf teams want to come here and
practice during the offseason, it would be great for that.
Everyone is welcome here.”
If all goes well, Baker, Volkert and Garcia would like to one day expand the business to a third bay and offer memberships and leagues. They’re looking forward to giving the community a place to go, especially for exercise and keeping golf skills sharp during the winters.
“We built our own simulator at a friend’s garage because it was expensive around the area and we wanted to play without having to drive far away in the winter,” Baker said.
“We wanted to keep our skills sharp. I had just started golfing in the fall and I didn’t want to lose my progress. And then we saw the need for something like this.”
2025 Ogle County 4-H Fair schedule set for July 30-Aug. 3
OREGON — The 2025 Ogle County 4-H Fair will be held in conjunction with the 172nd Ogle County Fair in Oregon. The fair is open to the public from July 30Aug. 3. Visit the 4-H Fair to see local 4-H club members in action with their animals and experience the wide array of displays and presentations they have created for showcase in the exhibit building.
4-H competitions and special events are set as follows:
a.m. All 4-H Horses on Grounds. 8 a.m. 4-H Rabbit Show. 8:30 a.m. 4-H Horse Show. 9 a.m. 4-H Swine Show. 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. Exhibit Building Open to Public. 1 p.m. 4-H Dairy Show. 3-4 p.m. 4-H Goat and Sheep Weigh-in. 5 p.m. 4-H Sheep Show. 4 p.m. 4-H Beef Show. 5 p.m. State Fair Orientation at Exhibit Building. 5:30-6 p.m. 4-H Bucket Calf Check-In. 6:30 p.m. 4-H Bucket Calf Judging (Will judge between Steer & Heifer Show). 7:30 p.m. 4-H
Dairy Goat Milk Production Contest Milk-Out. Friday, Aug. 1: 8:30 a.m. Llama/Alpaca check-in. 9 a.m. 4-H Goat Show (Dairy, Meat, Pygmy, Pet, Showmanship, Novelty). 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. Exhibit Building Open to Public. 9:30 a.m. 4-H Llama/Alpaca Show. 2 p.m. 4-H Poultry Show. Saturday, Aug. 2: 9 a.m.9 p.m. Exhibit Building Open. 3 p.m. Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction. 7 p.m. Master Showmanship Contest.
Sunday, Aug. 3: 11 a.m.
- 1 p.m. Exhibit Building Open to Public. 1 p.m. Exhibit Building and Animals Check-out (Families with last names K - Z). 3 p.m. Exhibit Building and Animals Check-out (Families with last names A - J). 5 p.m. Exhibit Building closed for project pick up.
The Ogle County Fairgrounds is located two miles west of Oregon, off Illinois Route 64 on Limekiln Road. Daily admission to the fair is $10 for individuals 5 years
old and up on Wednesday, July 30, through Sunday, Aug. 3, and includes carnival rides. Discounted fair passes are available on the fair website at https://www. oglecountyfair.com/. 4-H is the youth development program of University of Illinois Extension. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H, contact the Ogle County Extension office at 815-732-2191 or visit online at https://extension. illinois.edu/bdo/4-h-oglecounty.
The golf simulator setup includes projectors, impact screens, and high-end monitors that can read ball data regardless of if the golfer is left or right handed with immediate shot feedback. High-speed cameras allow golfers to review data on and assess their swings. The brand new software includes the chance to play famous courses such as Pebble Beach.
(PHOTOS BY JEFF HELFRICH)
LOCAL NEWS
OREGON — On July 15 at approximately 8 a.m. deputies responded to a follow up at 4732 S. Skare Road in reference to a violation of an order of protection investigation. After the investigation, Deputies arrested Shannan Johnson, 55, of Rochelle, for violation of an order of protection. Johnson was transported to the Ogle County Jail where was held until she appeared in front of a judge.
On July 15 at approximately 12:31 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of East Illinois Route 38 and North 15th Street, Rochelle. After investigation, deputies placed Jacob O. Mohr, 28, of Malta, under arrest on two DeKalb County warrants for violation of an order of protection, no bond. Mohr was left in the custody of Dekalb County deputies.
On July 15 at approximately 2:18 p.m. deputies responded to a driving complaint near the intersection of West Sterling Road and South Freeport Road in rural Polo, where a vehicle had gotten stuck in the ditch. After an investigation, deputies placed Dallace L. Kern, 78, of Rock Falls, under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. Kern was additionally cited for illegal transportation or possession of alcoholic liquor by a driver, improper lane usage, and operating an uninsured vehicle. Kern was transported to the Ogle County Jail where she was issued a notice to appear with a return court date.
On July 16 at 11:19 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 1,000 block of South Illinois Route 2. As a result, deputies arrested Kara L. Stickles, 32, of Rockford for driving while license revoked. Stickles was additionally issued a citation for operating a motor vehicle with registration suspended. Stickles was transported to the Ogle County Jail, and released on a notice to appear with a future court date.
On July 17 at approximately 11:07 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of North Illinois Route 251 and East Illinois Route 72. After investigation, deputies placed Jefferson Gomez Rodriguez, 29, of Chicago under arrest for driving while license suspended. Gomez Rodriguez was release on a notice to appear at a future court date.
On July 17 at 9:30 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop at Lincoln Avenue and Lincoln Highway in Rochelle. As a result, deputies
arrested Ismael Jovanni Guzman-Fonseca, 28, of Mendota on an active Ogle County failure to appear warrant. Guzman-Fonseca was transported to the Ogle County Jail.
On July 17 at approximately 10:11 a.m. deputies responded to the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and Freeport Road for a two-vehicle accident with injuries. After an investigation, it was determined that a black Ford Focus, operated by Kimberly P. Kreeger, 29, of Freeport, was traveling southbound on Freeport Road, crossing the intersection. The Ford disobeyed the stop sign and struck a grain trailer that was being pulled by a red International truck tractor. The operator of the International was uninjured. Kreeger was transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Kreeger was cited for disobeying a stop sign. Deputies were assisted at the scene by Polo Fire and EMS.
On July 17 at approximately 3 p.m. deputies responded to the intersection of South Chana Road and East Flagg Road for a two-vehicle accident with injuries. After an investigation, it was determined that a blue Toyota Corolla, operated by Jonathan A. Goitia Crespo, 38, of Sycamore, was traveling northbound on South Chana Road, crossing the intersection. The Toyota disobeyed the stop sign and struck a black Pontiac Vibe, traveling eastbound on East Flagg Road. The driver of the Pontiac was evaluated on scene by Ashton EMS for a minor injury. Goitia Crespo was evaluated on scene by Ashton EMS and transported to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Goitia Crespo was cited for disregarding a stop sign and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Deputies were assisted at the scene by Ashton EMS.
On July 17 at 5:30 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop at East Washington Street and North Jones Terrace in Oregon. As a result, deputies arrested Brandice L. Fetters, 48, of Rockford on an active Winnebago County failure to appear warrant. Fetters was also cited for expired registration, and operating unsafe equipment. Fetters was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held pending an appearance before a judge.
On July 17 at approximately 8:45 p.m. deputies arrived at a residence in the 200 block of Main Street in Leaf River, in response to a possible violation of
a protection order. As a result of the investigation, deputies placed Ethan R. Rogers, 55, of Leaf River, under arrest for violation of order of protection. Rogers was transported to the Ogle County Jail, where he was held pending an appearance before a judge.
On July 18 at approximately 6:52 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Flagg Road and Lowden Road. After investigation, deputies placed Dario Esquivel-Arguellez, 26, of DeKalb, under arrest for no valid license. Esuivel-Arguellez was additionally issued a citation for operating an uninsured vehicle. Esquivel-Arguellez was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was released on a notice to appear and given a future court date.
On July 18 at approximately 9 p.m. deputies responded to the 200 block of South 4th Avenue, Forreston, for the report of a domestic disturbance. After an investigation, deputies placed John H. Vaultonburg, 36, of Forreston, under arrest for domestic battery. Vaultonburg was transported to the Ogle County Jail, and held pending an appearance before a judge.
On July 19 at approximately 2:56 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 5,000 block of North Illinois Route 251. After investigation, deputies placed Misael Ocampo-Nolasco, 48, of Rochelle, under arrest for driving while license revoked. Ocampo-Nolasco was also cited for no insurance. Ocampo-Nolasco was transported to the Ogle County Jail where he was released on a notice to appear at a future court date.
On July 19 at approximately 8:54 a.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Kishwaukee Road and Hales Corner Road. After investigation, deputies placed Santana Williams, 39, of Roscoe under arrest for driving while license revoked. Williams was additionally issued citations for no seat belt and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Williams was transported to the Ogle County Jail where she was released on a notice to appear and given a return court date.
On July 20 at approximately 12:20 a.m. deputies responded to a crash with injuries in the 12,000 block of West Judson Road. After an investigation, deputies placed a 17-year-old female juvenile, under arrest for driving while under the
influence of alcohol. The juvenile was additionally cited for failure to reduce speed. The juvenile was transported to OSF Saint Katharine Hospital and treated for suspected minor injuries. The juvenile was released on a notice
to appear with a future court date.
On July 20 at approximately 3:40 p.m. deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Illinois Route 26 and Baileyville Road. After investigation, deputies placed Walter Edwards, 64, of Freeport under arrest for driving while license suspended. Edwards was released on a notice to appear and given a future court date. All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty.
Ogle County Fair seeking volunteers for upcoming event
OREGON — Did you know that the Ogle County Fair is only possible because of our dedicated volunteers? It takes thousands of hours and a full year of planning to make a fair happen. They do everything from planning the fair which starts in August, booking entertainment, advertising, getting the ground ready including painting, flowers, bleachers, fencing, buildings, and maintaining the grounds
year-round. During the fair volunteers take tickets, direct parking, clean up garbage, run the office, and provide information. Then after the fair it’s time to disassemble and clean up. When you visit the
fair be sure to thank all the volunteers that make this event run smoothly. If you would like to join our volunteer group, we could use your help to make the fair run smoothly. We could really use your help
with the ticket booths and parking cars. You will be working outside regardless of weather and will be on your feet most of the time. If you are interested in helping with the ticket booths, contact Bambi at
779-771-8994 or to help with parking, contact Jon at 815-978-2264. If you have other questions, contact the fair office at 815-732-6962. More information is available on the website www. oglecountyfair.com
LOCAL NEWS
McCombie brings Women in Ag to John Deere
SAVANNA – Illinois
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) recently gathered her Women in Agriculture advisory group together for a tour of the John Deere Harvester plant in East Moline. The group got an indepth look at the production of combines, learned about the company’s history, and saw firsthand the impact they make in Illinois and beyond.
“From the outset, one of my top priorities has been to create a platform that not only brings women together around a shared passion but also strengthens the foundation of agriculture here in Illinois,” said McCombie.
“Agriculture is more than just an industry in our state — it is the backbone of our economy and the heart of so many communities. That’s why it is critical that we ensure women are not just included but empowered and elevated within this space.”
Leader McCombie launched the Women in Agriculture Advisory Group last year to bring women in the industry together. It is a great opportunity for the Leader to not only provide legislative updates from Springfield, especially as they relate to Illinois farming families, but hear concerns from participants about issues they are facing in real time.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
July 28: The Ogle County Historical Society will have their monthly meeting on Monday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. We meet at the carriage house annex building located behind (east of) the Nash House Museum at 111 N. Sixth St. in Oregon. Come join us. All are welcome.
July 30: Kable Band brings two more concerts of its 129th season. You won’t want to miss the final two concerts of the summer. Andy Eckardt will be directing. Final concert of the season will be July 30, so bring your
lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of concert band music. Concerts are held in the Reckmeyer Bandshell on the Mt. Morris Campus. Come early for the ice cream social at 7 p.m., and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information: mtmorrisil. net/concerts and encoremtmorris.com
Aug. 1: To celebrate Sweet Corn Appreciation Day, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie is hosting an event on Aug. 1. Leader McCombie passed legislation in 2022 to make August 1st the official
Sweet Corn Appreciation Day in Illinois and this year’s event marks the fourth annual celebration.
“Sweet Corn Day is a celebration of community, connection, and the simple joy of sharing good food with the people we care about,” said McCombie. “Sweet corn holds a special place in our hearts and on our tables, and reaching the fourth annual Sweet Corn Day is a meaningful milestone that reflects the enthusiasm that continues to grow around this event: it keeps getting bigger and better.” All are welcome. The event will
feature bounce houses, face painting, and, of course, sweet corn. The date, time, and location for the Fourth Annual Sweet Corn Day are as follows: Friday, Aug. 1 4-7 p.m. 9317 Illinois Route 84, Savanna. If you have questions about Sweet Corn Day, please call 815291-8989.
Aug. 4: The Leaf River United Methodist Church is hosting a Community Blood Drive on Monday, Aug. 4. Staff from the Rock River Valley Blood Center will draw blood between 12:30-5:30 p.m. Do you like to help others? Giving
to others feels amazing. In busy, complicated times, giving blood is an easy, meaningful way to make a difference. In fact, this simple gift can enhance the lives of up to three people. Giving blood only takes about one relaxing hour, and we - and your body - do all of the work. Remember, blood is a gift - straight from the heart. Your heart. Please share it today! If you are at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health, you should be eligi-
ble to donate blood. Join us in sharing the Gift of Life. For more information or to schedule an appointment, you can find the Leaf River United Methodist Church on Facebook or contact Laura at 815-276-5773 (call or text), or the Rock River Valley Blood Center at 815/965-8751, toll free at 877-RRVBC-99 or on the web at www.rrvbc.org Thank you!
Aug. 5: The Oregon Police Department will host National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the 100 block of North 2nd Street.
Any interested residents in Leader McCombie’s 89th District are encouraged to join on future Women in Agriculture advisory group updates by contacting mccombie@ilhousegop.org
Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) recently gathered her Women in Agriculture advisory group together for a tour of the John Deere Harvester plant in East Moline.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
LOCAL NEWS
First Fridays Open Mic is Aug. 1
OREGON — The First Fridays Open Mic presents its monthly show at the Oregon VFW on Friday, Aug. 1. This indoor event attracts many talented performers, but musicians and singers of all skill levels find acceptance from its supportive
audience.
The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, although a jar is available for donations. Performers can sign up for time slots on a first-come-first-serve basis, so it’s best to arrive by 6 p.m. or earlier. Interested parties who have
questions can contact Jerry Tice, at 815-449-2660.
The VFW is located at 1310 W. Washington St. in Oregon. It provides ample parking, along with the availability of a restaurant and bar within the building. A fish fry runs from 4-8 p.m.
Pictured are Michael Mott on banjos and Fred Grant on fiddle from last month’s First Friday Open Mic.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
ROCK VALLEY SHOPPER
SYCAMORE – Rochelle Community Hospital makes it easy for student-athletes to get gameready with affordable $35 sports physicals at XCEL Orthopedics Sycamore, located at 2670 DeKalb Ave. The special two-
day event will be held on Tuesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 31, with appointments available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
Appointments are required and can be made by calling XCEL at 815-
Christel Ackland 815-561-2153
561-2774. Space is limited, so early scheduling is encouraged.
The cost is just $35 per student, payable by cash or check only, and all proceeds from the event will be donated back to a local community charity
of the athlete’s choice.
“This is a win-win for families and the Sycamore area,” said Michelle LaPage, the Rochelle Community Hospital marketing manager.
“We’re helping students meet school and athletic
Chris Grimm 815-561-2125
requirements while giving back to the community we serve.”
Sports physicals are a requirement for student participation in many school athletics programs, helping ensure young athletes are healthy and safe as they return to sports this fall. For more information about RCH or sports physicals, visit rochellehospital.com or follow Rochelle Community Hospital or follow along on social media.
These decorative items add a lot to holiday festivities
IT’S easy to recognize the holiday season has arrived. Holiday-centric sights and sounds abound this time of year. In fact, the arrival of decorations in stores seemingly comes earlier and earlier each year, perhaps to accommodate people’s undying enthusiasm for the holiday season.
Decorating a home or business for the holidays involves some familiar items, but this is a time of year when people can truly make the holidays their own. With that in mind, here are some considerations for decorations and other trinkets that can add a lot of cheer to this already festive time of year.
• Wreaths: Wreaths are one of the simplest ways to dress up windows, doors
or other areas of a home. These decorative items can be made from various materials. Evergreen boughs are one of the more traditional, but there’s also colorful garlands, flowers or even ribbon that can be wrapped to make a wreath.
• Lights: Lights are integral parts of both Christian and Jewish holiday celebrations. Lights adorn homes to represent Christ being the Light of the World. In Judaism, the lighting of eight candles for Chanukah represents how a small amount of Temple oil miraculously burned for eight days and nights. Filling a home with artificial lights or candles adds a festive touch to dark winter evenings.
• Advent calendar: While it is called an advent
calendar and traditionally ties into the time preceding Christmas, anyone can utilize an advent “countdown” calendar as they anticipate the arrival of Christmas Day. There are different iterations of advent calendars, from chocolate calendars to decorative ones featuring doors behind which there are whimsical figurines. Kids may even want to get involved in making homemade calendars.
• Poinsettias: Poinsettias come in a variety of colors, but red is the hue of choice for holiday decorating. Perhaps surprisingly. poinsettias are tropical plants. The “flowers” you see on the plants aren’t flowers at all. They’re modified leaves called bracts. If you take good care of poinsettias, they even can be planted
outdoors for the summer.
• Boughs and branches: One of the easiest ways to add a festive touch to a home for the holidays is with items that likely can be scavenged from outdoors. Take a hike and gather
some evergreen boughs, tree branches, pine cones, and holly sprigs, which can be turned into garlands, wreaths or centerpieces. With a little white speckle paint, you can give them a snow-covered look.
Decorating for the holidays is a popular tradition and one that can make spaces even more festive to enjoy. Various items can enhance the ambiance and set the scene for the joyous weeks to come.
Level Up at Your Library
Youth summer reading program ...All Book Logs should have been turned in on Friday, July 25. Goal completion prizes and additional prizes will be available soon. Those participants who completed their goals will be contacted to pick up their prizes. I Spy Hunt in the Library, Solve the Maze at the Library and Mystery Letter Hunt will continue through August 7.
Adult Summer Reading program
Continues through August 9th. Don’t forget to turn in your book logs and brain teaser packets.
Preschool Story Time (18 months – 6 years). Story Time will continue through Monday, August 4th. Registration is required. Visit www. oregonpubliclibrary.com or call (815) 732-2724 to register.
Kanopy is Now Available Kanopy is now available for Oregon Public
Library cardholders. Instantly stream movies from Kanopy’s collection of 31,000 popular videos, TV series, independent films, documentaries and more. All you need is a library card to create an account. To better serve our patrons we replaced Hoopla with Kanopy. Hoopla services ended on June 30th
Summer Eats Free Meals for Kids & Teens (provided by the United Way of Lee County) through August 6th. Grab-and-go meals are provided free of charge to all kids and teens. No registration or paperwork required. Three kid-friendly lunches plus extra goodies will be available to each person. Pick up at the Oregon Public Library. Stop in and ask a librarian for more info. Lunches are available until supplies last and are resupplied each week.
Try It Tuesday Tuesday, August 12 at 1:30 pm or 5:30 pm (Choose your time slot).
ROCK RIVER CENTER ACTIVITIES
Rock River Center is a resource center located at 810 S. 10th Street, Oregon. Our activities and trips are open to all ages. Call our office @ 815732-3252 for assistance with Benefit Access Application for a license plate discount, Medicare, housing, homemaker service, heating assistance or other things. Visit us at www.rockrivercenter. org and like us on Facebook.
AUGUST YOGA
CLASSES
Yoga: 10:00 -11:00 am. Chair Yoga: 11:15 – 12:00 noon. When: Friday, August 1, 8, 22, and 29. Cost: $5 per session POOL PLAYERS
Did you know
That you can get your CDs, DVDs, and video game discs cleaned at the Byron Library? For a fee of $1.00 per disc, our special disc cleaning machine can wipe away smudges and buff out most scratches. If you have a disc that won’t play correctly, bring it to the library and we’ll make it good as new!
Creative Studio
Our Creative Studio is open on Sunday afternoons and two evenings a week, so stop by for monthly crafts and to use our maker space equipment! Crafts out on the tables are free of charge, while some other projects will incur a cost depending on materials. Middle school and high school youth can use some of
Stencil Painted Tote BagsGrab some stencils and let’s paint a canvas bag! This is an adult-only class, 18 and up. Registration required, limited spaces. Please call (815) 732-2724 or visit www. oregonpubliclibrary.com
Ink with A Friend Monthly Card Club Monday, August 18 at 6:00 pm. Sending personal cards to your friends and family is a way to let them know you care and are thinking about them. All designs include beautiful colored cardstock, gorgeous designer series paper, detailed stamped images, die-cut pieces, matching ink, ribbon, and embellishments. All cards come with matching envelopes. Whether you’re a new card maker or a seasoned pro, our kits are suited to every skill level. Don’t wait! Sign up today to reserve your spot. Oregon Patrons only. Registration required, call (815) 732-2724 or visit www. oregonpubliclibrary.com Book Clubs
Did you know that there is an easy way to use the library from your phone? Just download the PrairieCat app to your phone or mobile device and log in with your library card number and PIN! You’ll be able to view your checkouts and holds, renew renewable materials, and search the library catalog. There’s even a digital copy of your library card!
The 2WBC meets Wednesday, August 13, at 12:30 to discuss Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. Is This Just Fantasy? Book Club will meet August 19 at 6 pm at the Library to discuss Masters of Death by Olivie Blake. The Afternoon Book Club meets Wednesday, August 20, at 1 pm to discuss How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. Cocktails and Crime will meet August 17, so stop by the Library to find out title, location and time. Books on Tap Book Club will meet Thursday, August 28 at 6 pm at Cork & Tap to discuss Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.
Functional Fitness
Wednesdays at 9:30 am. In this class, we use exercises based on whole-body movements to restore posture, improve body mechanics, build strength and endurance, and finetune balancing skills. We start with a slow warm-up followed by core exercises – then explore how to utilize these tools based on
Registration Required. Individual meetings available upon request.
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
Meets: 3rd Tuesday of the month. Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
DIABETIC SUPPORT GROUP
Meets: 1st Wednesday of the month. Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. LOW VISION GROUP
Meets: 2nd and 4th
Tuesday of month. Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. For more information on any of our Support Groups, call Rock River Center at 815-732-3252 or 1-800-541-5479.
Benefi t Access Appli-
Curbside
Delivery
The library is open for browsing, but patrons can still use our curbside service! Place your holds online at byronlibrary. org or call us at 815-2345107. Not sure what you want? Call us for help! We will call or email you with a confirmation when your holds are ready to be picked up. Call us when you arrive at the library, and we will bring your items out to you, already checked out. A receipt with your due dates will be included with your items. Visit the Byron Library Facebook page, or subscribe to our newsletters at byronlibrary.org, to keep up to date on library news and programs! Be sure to also check out the Byron Library and Byron Library Teen Instagram pages!
real situations in daily life. Bring your yoga mat! All levels are welcome. - OREGON PATRONS ONLYRegistration required, this class fills quickly. Please call (815) 732-2724 or visit http://www.oregonpubliclibrary.com.
Knit & Crochet
Mondays at 1:00 pm. This group meets every Monday at 1 pm and is open to anyone. From beginner to expert, all skill level are welcome to join. Bring any hand craft and work on it while socializing. Need help getting started with your knitting project, stop in on a Monday. Registration is requested, visit http:// www.oregonpubliclibrary.com or call (815) 732-2724.
Photo Printer at the library!
The library has a photo printer capable of printing 4 x 6, 5x7, 8x10, and 8.5 x 11 from computer, USB drive or SD card. It will not print directly from a phone. Call for more info.
Community Seed Li-
cation
Do you need help with Benefi t Access Application, Medicare, housing, personal care, homemaking, heating assistance or other things? Rock River Center’s Information & Assistance Specialists are available at vari-
ous locations throughout Ogle County. Assistance at these locations is available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact Rock River Center at (800) 541-5479 to schedule an appointment.
brary
You can’t beat the taste of fresh food that you grow yourself. Come in and browse our seed library. Seeds are FREE for anyone.
Oregon Writers Group
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am The OWG is a gathering of writers or writer-wannabes who meet to support each other and further their own writing. The purpose of the group is to help and encourage you in your writing. If you need brainstorming ideas, we can help suggest ideas or aid with the creative process.
OPLD Dial-A-Story & Oregon Public Library StoryWalk @ Oregon Park West Call 815-732-2724, follow the prompts and presto...a story! Current story- When the Sky Roars by Katie Weaver. Available at the StoryWalk is Pete the Cat Plays Hide & Seek by Kimberly & James Dean.
Byron - Jarrett Prairie Center Aug 11 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Forreston –Library Aug 13 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Mt. Morris Senior Center Aug 14 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Polo Senior Center Aug 28 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Rochelle – Hub City Senior Ctr. Aug 7 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
BYRON PUBLIC LIBRARY
AREA CHURCH DIRECTORY
OREGON
Services: Sunday School 9:00 am, Worship Service 10:15 am VISITORS WELCOME LEAF RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH
Pastor Billy Hardy Sunday Morning: 9:30am Bible Classes for all ages 10:30am Worship Service with nursery available. Live stream available at leafriver.church/live-now 6941 N. Mt. Morris Rd., Leaf River, IL 61047
immanuel-lindenwood.org (for sermons, events, etc.) 16060 E. Lindenwood Road, Lindenwood, IL 61049 815-393-4500 • office@immanuel-lindenwood.org
Sunday Mornings: Divine Service @ 9am; Food & Fellowship @ 10am; Sunday School and Adult Bible Study @ 10:30am Food Bank: 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9am-12pm Pastor: Rev. Dr. Matthew Rosebrock pastor@immanuel-lindenwood.org
LINDENWOOD UNION CHURCH
101 N Galena st, P.O box 67, Lindenwood IL Regular worship service Sundays at 10:00am with fellowship following. Tuesdays 10:00 am Sr Exercise! Lunch afterwards. Thursdays 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Library time. Snacks and coffee. Everyone is welcome!
KINGS
ELIM REFORMED CHURCH 140 S. Church Road, Kings, IL 61068 • Pastor Marv Jacobs Phone 815-562-6811 E-mail: goelimchurch@gmail.com Website: www.goelimchurch.org Sunday morning
MOUNT MORRIS
N. Maple Ave., Mt. Morris, IL 61054 815-734-4853 secretary@disciplesumc.org www.disciplesumc.org
Marcia
In the event that Oregon Schools are not
session the Youth group does not meet on Wednesdays. We look forward to meeting you!
EBENEZER REFORMED CHURCH
2997 N. German Church Rd., 815-732-6313
3 miles east of Oregon on Rt. #64 then 2 miles north on German Church Rd. • Rev. Josiah Youngquist www.EBENEZERREFORMED.com • Sunday school 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m.
LIGHTHOUSE UNITED METHODIST
Pastor Dave Rogula 4962 S. Daysville Rd., Oregon, IL 61061 lighthouseUMC@ yahoo.com Worship at 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion celebrated the first Sunday of each of month. Lighthouse will lite up your life!
LITTLE PRAIRIE MENNONITE CHURCH
1831 S Harmony Rd. Oregon, IL 61061 Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Morning, 7:00 PM 1st & 3rd Sunday Evening, 7:30 PM 2nd & 4th Wednesday Evenings of the Month. Pastor: Norman Reinford 779-861-3700
OREGON CHURCH OF GOD 860 W. Oregon Trail Road Oregon, IL Phone: 732-6847 or 732-2604 Pastor Michael Hoffman; Sunday School, 9:15 a.m.; Morning worship, 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday activities: Adult, Children, and Youth Groups 7 p.m. At the church. OREGON FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 505 Hill St. Oregon, IL 61061 Phone: 732-2642 Pastor: David Snow “A Christ-centered,
STILLMAN VALLEY
Get creative with holiday decor this year
THE end of the year is upon us and that often involves decorating a home in its holiday finest. According to Today’s Homeowner, nearly 70 percent of Americans plan to display outdoor holiday decorations. Among those choosing to decorate, 34 percent will do so before Thanksgiving.
Everyone has a different vision of a well-appointed holiday home, but there’s always room to make things more unique and creative. These ideas can add a little extra to holiday displays.
Decorate other rooms
Who says holiday decorating is exclusive to living and dining areas? Think about decorating unexpected places, like swapping out everyday towels and shower curtains with something festive. Swags of greenery
wrapped in lights can be added to bed frames. Coordinate the ornaments
Identify a color theme and then showcase it with ornaments. Think about matching the ornaments to the presents wrapped under the tree as well. Purchase white package paper and color or paint the paper to be the same hues as the ornaments on the tree boughs.
It’s hip to be square
While round wreaths are traditional, make your own wreaths in a different geometric shape by using wire or another material as the frame. Square wreaths may be unexpected, and you also can turn the square on its side for a diamond shape.
Add a spot of color
Certain holidays are known for their particular
color palettes, such as red and green for Christmas. But you also can do something unexpected. Whether using a lighter shade of the same color family or adding an accent color like purple or blue, you can change things up in a creative way.
Make an unexpected bouquet
Swap flowers for pine cones, berries and greenery in unique vessels. For example, arrange your centerpiece in a tall fountain glass or even a cocktail shaker. Try a different accent tree
Use a styrofoam cone as the base of a tree for a centerpiece or sideboard. Attach poinsettia branches for a vibrant red tree, or stacked lemons or oranges filled with greenery for a fresh-smelling citrus creation.
belief Instead of attaching a tree topper to the tallest bough, hang one from the ceiling just above the tree to add even more whimsy. Mix and match
When it comes to a holiday table, mix and match table settings for an eclectic tableau.
Instead of a large holiday display in familiar colors, rely on neutral, wintry tones that will blend in with the home but add a festive touch. Natural wood, whites and creams, and muted greens can fill spaces.
Shift into neutral
Suspend
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
How to keep guests entertained this holiday season
GATHERINGS
with loved ones
are a big part of what makes the holiday season such a special time of year. As families grow and spread out across the map, they may not get too many chances to spend quality time with one another. But the holiday season is a time each year when families make a concerted effort to get together.
As families get together under the same roof during the holiday season, individuals tasked with hosting gatherings tend to have a lot on their plates. Memories tend to be made around the holiday dinner table, but the season also presents ample opportunities to create nights to remember outside the house as well. Hosts can keep the following ideas in mind as they look for ways to entertain guests this hol-
iday season.
• Take a turn as a tour guide. Locals may not make the rounds of nearby tourist destinations too frequently, but the holiday season is a great opportunity for hosts to show guests what makes their towns so unique. Serve as a tour guide for guests on a sightseeing day with visits to local monuments or museums. Wrap the day up at a holiday bazaar where local small business owners have set up shop. This affords guests a chance to tour a new community or a hometown they haven’t visited in awhile, and also makes for a great chance for all to squeeze in a little last-minute holiday shopping.
• Plan an ugly sweater bar crawl. If hosts and their guests are all of age, an ugly sweater bar crawl can make for a fun night out on the
town. Encourage guests to wear an ugly holiday sweater and map out a route and schedule of visits to local bars and restaurants. Hosts must prioritize safety on these types of excursions, so arrange for a bus to take guests from one spot to the next if establishments are far away from one another. If Main Street has a local bar district, arrange for transportation downtown at the start of the crawl and home when the night ends.
• Take in some local entertainment. Whether it’s a holiday lighting display show or a local theater performance of a classic holiday tale like Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” a night of local live entertainment is a great way for hosts and their guests to get out of the house. Hosts can even book a reservation for a pre-show meal
at a local restaurant so they can be free of cooking and give guests their undivided attention.
• Host a holiday movie night. Weary travelers who want to stay in may appreciate a holiday movie
double feature. Hosts can let guests pick a pair of holiday films and then host a double feature, complete with traditional movie fare like popcorn and candy. Hosts can even offer adult guests a glass of homemade eggnog
during the films to up the holiday ante even further.
Holiday hosts can embrace various ways to entertain guests during a time of year when there’s no shortage of fun ways to spend a night.
LOCAL NEWS
Library Closings
The Mount Morris Library will close early on Thursday, July 31st to get ready for our Summer Reading Program Picnic! We will be closing at 4pm to head over for the fun! If you participated in our Summer Reading Challenge and completed at least one punch cardyou are invited! Call the library to RSVP and for more details.
Mount Morris Library Hours
The Mount Morris Library is open every day Monday through Saturday. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11am-7pm, Fridays 11am-5pm, and Saturdays 10am-2pm. Stop by and see us!
Level Up at Your Library has ended
Thank you so much for the support from our community members and businesses! It was a fun and successful summer and we have a lot of kids and adults reading! If you signed up and completed any punch card level you are invited to the end of the program PARTY! Call the library for more details and to RSVP! 815-734-4927
Read with Therapy Dog, Holly Monday, July 28th. We
have an exciting opportunity at the Mount Morris Library with Holly, a local therapy dog. Holly will be here on the 4th Monday of each month from 5pm until 6:30pm for 15-minute time slots. You can register a child for a time slot using the link in our Facebook Events page! This program is free for anyone, but you must register to let Holly know you will be coming to visit!
Ink with a Friend
Monday, August 11 th at 5pm. We will be offering a card-making class from a local crafter, Liz Gullett. She will be here on Monday, August 11th at 5pm! You will get all the materials to make two beautiful cards to take home. Stop by to see the samples, $5 fee when you register. Registration is limited so call the library or stop by to save your spot before August 4th!
Lego Night!
Thursday, August 21st at 6pm. Bring the family out for some awesome brick building! We will pull out #AlltheLegos for this night and kids can build whatever they can imagine. Then, they can put a name on their creation and keep it on our display for all to enjoy until the next Lego night!
BERTOLET MEMORIAL LIBRARY
BINGO
Monday, July 28th at 2:00PM: Attention BINGO fans of all ages: We’ve got free game play and great prizes, including a Grand Prize donated for the final round of blackout! Join us!
Back to School Bash
Thursday, August 7th at 11:00AM: Join us for free activities and games. A free hot dog lunch will be available at noon followed by snow cones. Registration is required for this event by calling 815-738-2742 by July 31st. Get SSET 4 School
Seed Library
Discover the joy of gardening with our NEW seed library! Borrow, grow and share from a diverse selection of seeds, and help cultivate sustainability and biodiversity in our community…one seed at a time! March 1-October 31.
Summer Reading Challenge
Scoop, here it is! It’s finally Summer, and if you’re like us, you’re ready to chill... with a stack of library books and plenty of
The following events are happening at the Mt. Morris Senior & Community Center!
Diamond Painting Friday, August 1st is Diamond Painting. No previ-
Display Case Showings
Stop by to see the awesome display of dolls from our very own, Margaret Dannhorn. Dolls play a critical role in many families lives and these are no different. Come admire all the ups and downs of childhood through the styles of our dolls. We are always looking for collectors or artists who are willing to share their treasures in our display cases. If you are interested, please call, 815-734-4927.
Mount Morris Library is FINE FREE!
Yep! You no longer need to worry about paying fines for late books, dvd’s, audiobooks, etc. at the Mount Morris Library! We have no fines due for late materials, just return the item and you can check out any other item at no cost! We love serving our community and invite all patrons to visit the Mount Morris Library!
Explore More Illinois
Explore More Illinois users can access, and reserve passes from any of our attractions on the Mount Morris Library website, mtmorris-il.org, under the resources page. Visit the website to browse attractions.
Now through August 2nd Get SSET 4 School (Supplying Students Educational Tools 4 School) is a local group that collects and distributes school supplies for our free/ reduced lunch students in the FVV school district. Bring new school supplies to Bertolet Memorial Library now through August 3rd. Markers, glue, calculators, lunch bags, backpacks, and more are all needed to help these students start the school year off on the right track! Distribution will be held in Forreston.
sweet treats. You can satisfy BOTH of those cravings with our 2025 Summer Reading Program: Scoop Up A Good Book! When you participate, you’ll collect badges by logging your reading, completing fun activities and attending library programs... for a chance to win real prizes. It’s fun. It’s easy. It’s free! ALL AGES. May 26 – Aug 2. Preschool Playdate Preschool storytime is taking a short summer vacation. In the meantime, you
ous experience needed and paintings are available for purchase.
Book Club August 4th at 11:00 am is our Book Club. Check with the Mt. Morris Li-
Hot Spots available at Mount Morris Library
The library has hotspots available to check out for use at home. These are available to Mount Morris Library card holders and will be checked out for fourteen days. Get more information from a librarian if you would like to use this free service!
Book Donations Welcome
Our book sale was such a great success due to all of your wonderful donations! We are accepting donations again for the next book sale! If you have any media you no longer need or want-bring them to the Mount Morris Library! We cannot accept textbooks, encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest Condensed books, VHS tapes, or audio cassettes.
Lions Club Glasses and Hearing Aids Collections
Donation boxes for eyeglass recycling are available at the library. When the boxes are full, they are picked up by local Lions members and dropped off at collection depots. These recycled eyeglasses are given to people in need, with the help of various medical missionaries, in Central and South Amer-
Adult Summer Reading
Adult Summer Reading is here!! Sign up today at the circulation desk to receive your reading log. When your log is completed, turn it in for a goodie bag and a chance to win a grand prize. The more logs you fill in, the more chances you have to win that grand prize! Get started today; the contest ends August 31st.
Spice of the Month
Garlic: This month’s spice also dates back to ancient empires and can be found in many forms today.
can join us each Wednesday at 10 a.m. for a Preschool Playdate. Join fellow kids and their caregivers to socialize, play and build friendships. Each week will feature a unique, self-directed activity. Registration required to ensure we have enough activities available: 815-645-8611.
Tween Scene: Trivia Come test your knowledge on books, movies, games and more while munching on snacks and laughing with friends. Tues-
brary for this month’s book and join us for discussion. Budget Webinar
Inflation: How it Affects a Fixed-Income Budget Webinar – Join us at The Center as the U of I Ex-
ica and around the world. When the eyeglasses arrive in these countries, doctors and technicians conduct eye exams and provide a free pair of prescription eyeglasses that are as close as possible to that person’s sight needs. When donating HEARING AIDS, please be sure to place them in a small box or hard-covered case so they do not get crushed or damaged.
Adult Programming
We would love to hear from you. Do you have any program ideas? Do evenings or weekends work better? Do you have a program you would like to share/lead? Contact Mary Cheatwood at the library through email at mmlib@ mtmorris-il.org or call 815734-4927.
Memorial Gifts
Give a gift that lasts, brings joy to many, and doubles in value. Your memorial gift to the library is matched by the Mt. Morris Library Foundation, doubling your generosity! Many thanks to all who gave memorial gifts in 2023.
Newspaper Available!
We will now be receiving the Dixon Telegraph daily! We receive the Ogle County Life, Sauk Valley, and Mt. Morris Times. If
Stop by the desk to grab a sample of garlic powder and new recipes to try!
July Take & Make Craft
Stop by to pick up a kit to make a Rainbow Jellyfish. It goes perfectly with Color Our World!
Community Puzzle
You made it! The fireworks puzzle was completed! We will have a new puzzle out the next time you stop it.
Coloring Pages
Don’t forget we have new coloring pages each week available for you to
day, Aug. 5, 6 p.m. Ages 1013. Registration required: 815-645-8611.
Toddler Time: Water Bins
A splashing good time! Beat the summer heat and join us on the library lawn for water play featuring a variety of sensory bins. Dress to get wet. Friday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. Ages 1-4. Registration required: 815645-8611.
Adult Craft: Rocky Mountain Sunrise Ain’t no mountain high
tension presents a webinar that dives deeper into what inflation is, how it affects our buying power, how we can adjust our budget and provide resources. August 12th at 2:00 pm.
you want to keep up with the local news-stop on by! Curbside Service is available!
We want to remind everyone that you still have the option of having your materials delivered to your vehicle. If you have holds waiting for you, call us to tell us you are on your way, and we will bring them out to your vehicle when you arrive. Call us if you need more information.
Additional Services Offered
We make copies ($0.25 per black and white page). We fax ($2 for the first page and $0.50 each additional page). We can scan a document and send it to email ($2 per document). You can use a computer without a library card for $1.00. Resume software is available on our computers. Come visit us and let us help you! Library Board Meetings
Monthly board meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm at the library unless otherwise noted. The public is welcome to attend.
The Mount Morris Public Library is located at 105 S. McKendrie Ave. Mt. Morris IL 61054 – 815-7344927 Fax-815-734-6035
www.mtmorris-il.org
choose from.
Card Making
Card Making supplies are always available for you to create with. Call ahead for room availability.
Game Table
We have a variety of board games, including checkers, for anyone to play. Stop in and bring your competitive streak.
Plastic Recycling
*No animal feed bags are allowed (cat, dog, bird, etc)* We ask that you make sure plastic is clean with no debris in the donation. Also please remove
enough to keep us from felting the view! Design your own mountain sunrise using layered scraps of felt, finished with an embroidery hoop frame. Monday, Aug. 11, 6 p.m. Adults only. Registration required: 815645-8611.
Printmaking Workshop
Discover the art of printmaking and learn how to make your mark. We’ll use a variety of simple supplies to explore the different types of printmaking techniques.
Breakfast Every Wednesday from 8 am to 10 am you can enjoy our delicious biscuits and gravy with a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
any ziploc-type seals and paper/sticker labels. Thank you for your cooperation.
NEW RELEASES
Adult Books
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Lincoln’s Lady Spymaster by Gerri Willis
Chapter Book
Westfallen by Ann Brashares
Picture Book
Minecraft: Buzzing Beehive by Christy Webster
DVD
Big Sky River
Saturday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. Ages 5-9. Registration required: 815-645-8611. Introduction to Composting Turn yard and kitchen waste into organic matter to use as a soil amendment, mulch and potting soil! Join Master Gardener, Phil Bratta, as he presents the ins and outs of composting: what materials to use, types of composting systems and benefits. Thursday,Aug. 21, 6 p.m. Adults. Registration required: 815-645-8611.
Exercise
We have an ongoing Highland Sponsored exercise class at The Center every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 9 am! Come and try it out!
MT. MORRIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
JULIA HULL DISTRICT LIBRARY
MT. MORRIS SENIOR CENTER
Weekly Brain Busters
101
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT
COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
IN THE MATIER OF THE ESTATE OF:
DARYL C. POTTS, Deceased NO. 2025 PR 44 CLAIM NOTICE
NOTICE IS GIVEN of the death of DARYL C. POTTS of Oregon, Illinois. Letters of office were issued on July 9, 2025 to Curtis Dale Cook of Oregon, Illinois, whose attorney is Douglas P. Floski, of Floski Law Office, LLC. at 220 W. Third Street, P.O. Box 1007, Byron, Illinois, 61010-1007.
CLAIMS against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Judicial Center, 106 South 5th Street, Oregon, Illinois, 61061, or with the representative, or both, within 6 months from the first publication of this Notice, or within three months from the date of mailing or delivery of Notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Illinois Probate Act, 1975. as amended, whichever date is later. Any claim not filed within that period is barred.
Copies of claims filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the estate legal representative and to the attorney within 10 clays after the claim has been filed.
CURTIS DALE COOK, Personal Representative No. 0720
(July 21, 28 and Aug. 4, 2025)
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice is hereby given that on July 14, 2025 a certificate was filed in the Ogle County Clerk’s Office setting forth the names and post office address of all of the persons owning, conducting and transacting the business known as: Wildhaven Cattle Company 11843 W IL Route 72 Forreston, IL 61030
Dated July 14, 2025
Laura J. Cook, Ogle County Clerk No. 0721
(July 21, 28 and Aug. 4, 2025)
NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE SPRING BROOK MHP,
LLC, an Illinois limited liability company, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL FOX and, CONSECO FINANCE, Defendants. No. 2025CH13
NOTICE OF PUBLICATION
Michael Fox That this case has been commenced in this Court against you and other defendant requesting the entry of a Court Order directing the Illinois Secretary of State issue title to and in that certain 1979 Mobile Home: VIN: 0130409N; Title Number T0174763024, located at 501 N. Ash Avenue, Lot 11, Forreston, Ogle County, Illinois. NOW, THEREFORE, UNLESS YOU file your answer or otherwise file your appearance in this case in the Office of the Clerk of this Court: Clerk of the Circuit Court Ogle County Courthouse 106 S. Fifth Street Oregon, IL 61061
On or before August 21, 2025. A DEFAULT MAY BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU AT ANY TIME AFTER THAT DAY AND A JUDGEMENT MAY BE ENTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRAYER OF SAID COMPLAINT.
Dated July 14, 2025
Kimberly A. Stahl, Clerk of the Circuit Court Ogle County, Illinois No. 0723
(July 21, 28 and Aug. 4, 2025)
NOTICE
WB Self Storage, located at 553 S. Daysville Rd. in Oregon, Illinois is issuing a notice to the tenant Brittany Olson –Unit B2 and Travis Tryggestad – Unit B9. This is a notice to contact us and make arrangements to pay past due rent and take possession of your contents. Failure to do so by end of day (11:59 pm) on 8/11/2025 will result in the removal and disposition of your units contents on 8/12/2025. We can be contacted by email at wbstorageil@ gmail.com, by phone at 815-262-6779, or mail at WB Self StoragePO Box 122 - Byron, IL 61010. No. 0732
(July 28 and Aug. 4, 2025)
BID NOTICE
BMD Read House RFP
Notice
The Byron Museum District, Ogle County, Illinois is requesting proposals for roofing and gutter upgrades to the historic Lucius Read House located at 101 W. Blackhawk Byron, Illinois. Bids will be received as a lump
sum proposal for the replacement of existing roofing and gutter system, repairing and painting soffits, eves, and trim over the autumn of 2025.
Digital Proposals should be e-mailed in PDF format to director@byronmuseum.org
Proposal submission deadline is Wednesday, August 20, 2025 3:00 o’clock P.M. Project Start and End Dates: September 1 through December 15, 2025. Interested vendors may schedule an inspection of the building’s interior during museum hours
Wed-Sat between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
The successful bidder will be required to furnish insurance equal to or greater than the specified amounts and conditions; a minimum of one million dollar liability insurance, and must comply with the Illinois Statutes requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all contractors working on public works.
The Owner will evaluate bids based on cost, materials, experience and past performance of contractor, and rating of insurance company.
The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals and to waive any informality in bidding, whenever such actions are in the interest of the museum district.
Any proposals received after the time specified shall be deemed non-responsive and be subject to immediate disqualification.
No proposals may be withdrawn or modified after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for at least thirty (30) days. BMD Read House RFP Notice
The Byron Museum District, Ogle County, Illinois is requesting proposals for roofing and gutter upgrades to the historic Lucius Read House located at 101 W. Blackhawk Byron, Illinois. Bids will be received as a lump sum proposal for the replacement of existing roofing and gutter system, repairing and painting soffits, eves, and trim over the autumn of 2025.
Digital Proposals should be e-mailed in PDF format to director@byronmuseum.org
Proposal submission deadline is Wednesday, August 20, 2025 3:00 o’clock P.M. Project Start and End Dates: September 1 through December 15, 2025. Interested vendors may schedule an inspection of the building’s interior during museum hours Wed-Sat between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The successful bidder will be required to fur-
nish insurance equal to or greater than the specified amounts and conditions; a minimum of one million dollar liability insurance, and must comply with the Illinois Statutes requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all contractors working on public works.
The Owner will evaluate bids based on cost, materials, experience and past performance of contractor, and rating of insurance company.
The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals and to waive any informality in bidding, whenever such actions are in the interest of the museum district.
Any proposals received after the time specified shall be deemed non-responsive and be subject to immediate disqualification. No proposals may be withdrawn or modified after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for at least thirty (30) days.
No. 0733 (July 28, 2025)
101
LEGAL NOTICE
This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advert ising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.
105 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
“This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.”
113 FINANCIAL
NOTICE Advance Fee Loans or Credit Offers Companies that do business by phone can’t ask you to pay for credit before you get it. For more information, call toll-free 1-877-FTCHELP. A public service message from your hometown newspaper and the Federal Trade Commission.
119
ANNOUNCEMENTS
“This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.”
unless licensed or holding a permit as a childcare facility, may cause to be published any advertisement soliciting a child care service. A childcare facility that is licensed or operating under a permit issued by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may publish advertisements of the services for which it is specifically licensed or issued a permit. Your Hometown Newspaper strongly urges any parent or guardian to verify the validity of the license of any facility before placing a child in its care.
203
HELP WANTED
Class-A CDL Drivers Wanted $500 Sign on bonus Earn up to $33/per hour Local Trucking Company seeking full time, year- round driver to haul grain. 815-938-3644
Please leave message. 09052022
301 ANTIQUES
ANTIQUES WANTED: I pay cash for antiques; furniture, glassware, pottery & crocks, tin & iron toys, sterling silver, decoys. If it’s antique, I’m interested in looking! Call 815-562-2928 or email dickharms@ hotmail.com
307 MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE
BUNDLED Newspaper -$3 per Bundle. Available MondayThursday 815-5624171 (9AM-3PM) Rochelle News Leader.
SPLIT Firewood For Sale. Contact 779251-0254
SALE.
ALL REAL ESTATE advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitation or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. 501 APARTMENTS FOR RENT
RUMMAGE SALE - FRANKLIN GROVE
Fri. Aug. 1 8a-4p Sat. Aug. 2 8a-1p Presbyterian Church accessible basement
106 S Walnut
Girls’ sizes 2T-5T, Boys’ sizes 3mo-5T, Men’s and Women’s, Clothing - most sizes, Lots of 3X Women’s, Name Brand Clothing, Suitcases, Books, Purses, Shoes, Yarn, AND MUCH MORE!
Sales all overHarvest Fest! 07232025
Multi-Family Garage
Friday Aug 1: 8-5, Sat Aug 2: 8-?
6497 N. Mt. Morris Rd. Leaf River
Sears Table Top Hockey Munro 1969 complete nice Pioneer stereo speakers CS-99A beautiful 1968 Corvette parts: new gas tank; 8” rally wheels w/ trim rings & hub caps; Quadrajet carbs; rear bumpers; 4-speed shifter; much more Echo GT-200R gas weed whacker Poulan Pro 21 gas snowblower Toro cordless trimmer
4 bladed ceiling fan with lights Antique tabletop lamp, unique Zero gravity lounge chair Cuisinart 4 slice toaster with cover 3 - 10 gallon aquariums Clothing - Men, women and small boys
Featuring 18K-14K-10K Gold Rings & Jewelry; Sterling Silver; Antiques & Collectibles; Advertising & Pre Pro Beer; Fine Signed Artwork; Country Store; Clocks; Primitives; Antique Tools-Stanley Planes-Gauges-Saws; Carpenter Maple Work Benches; Stoneware; Art Pottery; Lighting; Americana & Folk Art; American Flyer Trains; 150+ Lots Costume & Estate Jewelry; Huge Collection; More!
‘MARK L. MICHALAK REAL ESTATE AUCTION’
SAT., AUG. 23RD — 2 P.M.
RURAL, SECLUDED 13-ACRE FARM, HOME & BUILDINGS
6662 N. COLUMBINE RD., FORRESTON, IL 61030
Older 2-Story, 4-BR Home in Remodeling Condition. Good Mechanicals, Well, Septic System. Fencing, Creek & Pasture.
PERSONAL PROPERTY AUCTION BEGINS at 10 A.M.
Hack’s Auction & Realty Service Greg & Swan Hachmeister, Auctioneers Pecatonica, IL 815-239-1436 www.hacksauction.com
I.A.F.L. #44000128
He’s 6’1”, but he still looks up to me.
Adopt
(COURTESY
Detour route for loads over 20 tons. Loads must exit at the Illinois Route 72 interchange (exit 111) and use Illinois Route 72 westbound, Illinois Route 251 northbound and eastbound Bypass U.S. 20 to continue travel on northbound Interstate 39.
Weight restrictions in effect on northbound I-39 Kishwaukee River bridge
ROCKFORD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that a 20-ton load limit and lane restrictions have been placed on the northbound Interstate 39 bridge crossing the Kishwaukee River south of Rockford. The crossing is just north of the Baxter Road interchange (exit 115).
A recent structural inspection of the bridge identifi ed some critical issues requiring repair. Efforts to begin the needed repairs are underway. To ensure the safety to the traveling public and prevent further damage to the structure, the right lane of the bridge has been closed to traffic. Also, loads over 20 tons
must exit at the Illinois Route 72 interchange (exit 111) and detour using westbound Illinois Route 72, northbound Illinois Route 251 and eastbound Bypass U.S. 20 to travel on northbound Interstate 39. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zone areas, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.
For IDOT District 2 updates, follow us on X at @IDOTDistrict2 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundIllinois. com.
PHOTO)
Ogle County Sheri Brian VanVickle recently announced the hiring of Deputy Yadira Estrada in the Corrections Division. She was sworn in July 17. (Courtesy photo)
Estrada hired to Ogle County Sheri ’s O ce Corrections Division
