Ogle County Living Magazine_040620

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PUBLICATION • SPRING/SUMMER 2020

Whatever kind of bread you’re looking for – hearty or fruity, savory or sweet, and always fresh – the products at a Mount Morris shop always rise to the occassion

*****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID

Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

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A place for cigar aficionados Lawnmower Hospital expansion Oregon’s newest spot for fitness History, hospitality and the Holy Spirit

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Publisher Don T. Bricker

Jennifer Koertner, owner of Jen’s Artisan Breads, prepares cherry almond cream rolls March 10. She’s always loved to bake and grew up in a house where everything was homemade. “I can hear my father’s voice – ‘Nothing comes out of a box,’” she said.

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General Manager/Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editors Rusty Schrader & Kathleen Schultz Page design Laura Gaulrapp Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Do you have story ideas for Ogle County Living? Let us know.

Call 815-632-2502, or e-mail us at news@saukvalley.com

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Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media.

No portion of Ogle County Living Magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

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Have a cigar Local cigar shop offers camaraderie for cigar aficionados

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Where there’s smoke...

Stogie aficionado Barry Skinner of Mount Morris, seen here in 2018, runs Bad Ash Cigars at 114 N. River Road in Oregon.

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... there’s a smile STORY KATHERINE LESLIE PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL | FOR OGLE COUNTY LIVING

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An Oregon cigar shop offers customers a place to unwind, catch the game, enjoy the scenery and hang out with friends

REGON – The owner of an Oregon business says he has a sure-fire way to help customers’ see their stress disappear in a puff of smoke.

Have a cigar.

Barry Skinner opened Bad Ash Cigars in January 2018, and since then, he’s developed his stogie store into a “ a great place to come and relax,” he said. “No pressure, you can just unwind.”

That unwinding begins the minute customers walk through the door, where a welcoming atmospher and friendly greeting awaits them.

“Family,” said Skinner, “That’s how I want all of them to feel. Like this is their place.”

Continued on page 7

Bad Ash Cigars offers plenty of seating in a rustic and relaxing environment, where people can kick back and fire up a smoke.

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DECADES OF INNOVATION IN OREGON, ILLINOIS Woods® has been headquartered in Oregon, Illinois, since 1946, when Leonard, Keith and Mervel Wood invented the first successful tractor mounted rotary cutter. Today, we serve agricultural, landscape and construction markets from that same location on Illinois Route 2.

Although Woods has grown and changed throughout the years, we remain true to the tradition of superior design, durability and style established by the Wood brothers. With the ongoing support of our employees and the community, we proudly continue to innovate – right here in Oregon, Illinois.

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Bad Ash is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a smoke, watch some sports on TV and chat with some fellow cigar aficionados.

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If take more than just a genial greeting to relax you, check out the scenery. The cigar shop and lounge is located along the Rock River, in the former home of Rock River Outfitters, and provides customers with a breathtaking view that’s hard to beat – and when the weather’s nice, patrons can enjoy a puff and get even closer to nature on the back deck.

“People watch the eagles and the pelicans and enjoy the view,” Skinner said. “ We’re looking to add horseshoes and a fire pit. We want something enticing for everyone.”

“It’s one of the few activities you can sit for an hour and just enjoy,” customer John vonTis said during a recent visit to the shop. “Different political ideas, it doesn’t matter; you can still share a cigar.”

Skinner, of Mount Morris, had been wanting to open a shop for about 10 years before he finally opened Bad Ash in 2018.

He knows his stuff when it comes to cigars. He’s visited several cigar shops around the country and he worked at a cigar shop in Wheaton before opening Bad Ash. Bad Ash Cigars carries a wide variety of premium cigars, handmade and hand packaged, allowing the customers to enjoy a chemical-free product. The high-tech humidors monitored by Bluetooth 24/7 to ensure the proper temperature and humidity, ensuring each customer gets only the highest quality cigar.

Continued on page 9

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We accept Medicare & Medicaid

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Once you’re ready to light up, you can relax in the lounge, with cozy seating, large-screen TVs and a surround sound system that lets patrons watch the game in style.

“We always have sports on,” Skinner said.

Folks can also relax by the fireplace.

The shop doesn’t have a bar, but patrons can bring their own beer or liquor. If a cheroot and some company is more to your liking, Bad Ash hosts events, too.

On Thursday nights, there’s a bible group of “any denomination,” Skinner said. “We just enjoy a cigar, read the bible and pray.”

Poker nights that benefit the local food pantry are another favorite event. “Our buy-in for poker night is donations for the food pantry,” Skinner said. “We gamble with cigars or accessories, no money changes hands.”

Most days at Bad Ash you’ll find Barry behind the counter or enjoying a cigar along with his patrons – and he doesn’t plan on snuffing out the stogies anytime soon. “I’ll probably die doing this,” Skinner said about owning the lounge. “It’s not about the money; it’s the people. Here in the lounge you’re part of a bigger family.” n

Barry Skinner, owner/operator of Bad Ash Cigars in Oregon, stands inside his walk-in humidor.

The humidor holds hundreds of quality cigars.

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Whatever kind of bread you’re looking for – hearty or fruity, savory or sweet, and always fresh – the products at a Mount Morris shop always rise to the occassion Continued on page 11

STORY KELSEY HEAD PHOTOS MICHAEL KRABBENHOEFT | FOR OGLE COUNTY LIVING

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very small business owner likes to think their products are the best thing since sliced bread. Jennifer Koertner’s products really are.

Koertner has honed a hobby into a fine art at her Mount Morris shop, Jen’s Artisan Breads, where she sells fresh-baked artisan breads, pastries, biscotti, coffee and more.

Owning a bread shop is the culmination of a long-time search for Jen, one that began as a child and took her around the world and back home again in a quest for the perfect loaf of bread. She’s always loved to bake and grew up in house where everything was homemade.

Continued on page 12

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Jennifer Koertner, owner of Jen’s Artisan Breads, measures out cherry almond cream rolls.

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“I can hear my father’s voice – ‘Nothing comes out of a box,’” she said.

While serving in the Army for 3 years, including a stint in Desert Storm, she discovered European breads, a substantial bread with a crusty exterior and chewy crumb.

“That is the bread I try to emulate, and the pastry as well,” she said.

After returning stateside, she took a job cleaning houses while her kids went to school. One of her clients gave her a book on bread and some baking tools. “I just started reading a lot, and started baking bread. I loved the product I was getting,” she said. She also got a good response from friends who sampled her baked goods.

She started peddling her product on a small scale in 2013 and opened a her shop at Pinecrest Grove Community Center 5 years later.

Business grew and she eventually found a fellow baker who shared her passion for the perfect bread.

Sarah Meacham joined Koertner in the kitchen, and like Koertner, she’s selftaught.

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl bread sits on a shelf at Jen’s Artisan Breads

Continued on page 13

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The smell of freshly baked bread fills the retail space at Pinecrest Village where Jen’s Artisan Breads sells baked goods. Sourdough, Rustic Herb, roma Tomato and Cinnamon Raisin are just a few of the breads for sale.

“I have always had a love for bread. It was always a part of our family meals growing up,� she said on the business’ website. “My family went on a vacation to Disney World.

Every day we ate a different meal at Epcot.

My favorite part was the bread that they would bring out before the meal. One place had particularly good bread. I was afraid we wouldn’t have it again, so I filled my pocket with bread. After that I was the bread girl.�

Like Koertner, she also fell in love with European breads while on a trip to France.

After discovering Koertner’s bread at the Oregon farmers market, Meacham started following Jen’s Breads on Facebook, and became a steady customer. When Koertner decided to bring in a second baker, she didn’t have to look far.

The dynamic dough duo are always researching and learning more to hone their craft.

The bread baked at Jen’s can be described as old-world, rustic, and hearty. The shop sources as many local ingredients as possible for their products. Their coffee comes from One Cup Roasters in Minnesota, Koertner’s home state.

Continued on page 14

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Jen’s Artisan Breads is located at Pinecrest Village in Mount Morris.

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LEFT: Jennifer Koertner rolls out dough for cherry almond cream rolls.

ABOVE: Baked cherry almond cream rolls.

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A typical day of breadmaking starts at 4 a.m. The bread is slow fermented, using high quality flour, filtered water, and fresh ingredients.

The shop offers many varieties and flavors — savory garlic cheddar bread and fruity cherry walnut bread to name just a few – and specialty items such as, biscotti, pastries, bread bowls, highoctane bars, honey butter, and pizza dough.

It offers some good old standbys, too, such as baguettes, sourdough, and multi-grain bread. One customer favorite is cinnamon rolls. The sweet treats are also one of Koertner’s favorites, because she remembers her mother making cinnamon rolls.

Continued on page 17

Customers check out the selection of bread and baked goods at Jen’s Artisan Breads in Mount Morris.

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Patrons who stop by their store on Tuesday or Friday can enjoy a cup of coffee and fresh-baked goods in the seating area.

The breads also can be found at Sunshine Bakery in Rochelle, Hazel's Cafe in Oregon, Polo Fresh Food Market in Polo, and Curate Kitchen in Dixon. Breads are also sold at the community events and farmers markets.

Koertner said she sees her shop as more than just a place where people can go for dough — “We believe bread can be comforting and life giving,” she says on her website – but a place where she can promote the community and make friends.

A good place, she hopes, where people can come and break bread.

Jen’s Artisan Breads sells fresh-baked artisan breads, pastries, biscotti, coffee and more

Continued on page 18

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Jen’s Artisan Breads

“We believe bread can be comforting and life giving” ~ Jennifer Koertner

Jennifer Koertner (right) owner of Jen’s Artisan Breads, talks to a customer March 10 in Mount Morris.

500 Evergreen Lane, Mount Morris (storefront open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Friday) Note: As of this magazine’s press time, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Jen’s has set up a Square site (jensbread. square.site) where customers can order bread online, and the shop is doing curbside pickup for customers, on the south side of the community center, with the circle drive. The shop also temporarily stopped serving coffee and treats for instore consumption. Check Jen’s Facebook page for updates.

Contact: 815-978-3185 or jenkcreate8@yahoo.com Online: jensbread.com or find Jen’s Artisan Breads on Facebook Instagram: jens_artisan_ breads

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Story begins on page 20

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STORY MELISSA RUBALCABA RISKE | FOR OGLE COUNTY LIVING

Whether it’s time to bring in your lawn mower for a tune-up or time to shop for new equipment, a visit to Dambman Lawn Mower Hospital in Polo has everything you need. ...

Second-generation owner Jared Dambman has just moved into his new building, with more than 22,000 square feet for his showroom and repair operation.

“Everyone should come see the new place,” Dambman said.

Dambman said he’s happy to be settled into his new building after a fire in October 2018 forced him to move his shop into a temporary location until recently. No one was hurt in the fire, but two buildings, several lawn tractors and other equipment, and supplies were destroyed.

With the new building Dambman has expanded his operations, which is needed with his busy-year round schedule. He’s also created more space for his showroom where customers can find Simplicity and Massport mowers as well as portable generators, log splitters and pressure washers. This spring he plans to add home generators to his inventory.

The original business was established in 1955 by Harry Folk, who decided to use the word “hospital” in the name in honor of his wife, who worked as a school nurse in Polo. Gene Dambman bought the business in 1977, and in 2016 he passed it

along to his son, Jared.

Through the years business has remained strong. Dambman said he enjoys owning his own business, adding that the mechanical work has always been like second nature for him.

Dambman Lawn Mower Hospital serves residential and commercial customers who can find new as well as refurbished mowers.

At the heart of the business is the service: Jared diagnoses mechanical problems and relishes the challenge of fixing them, be it a broken belt or a worn-out engine. He aims to keep his loyal customers’ equipment working through each season.

Spring is a busy time, with many customers returning for their mowers’ annual spring tune-up. In the winter months he switches inventory from lawn equipment to snow throwers and snow blowers.

But whatever he sells, one thing remains constant yearround: “We love our customers,” Dambman said.

Continued on page 21

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MORE INFO Find Dambman Lawn Mower Hospital at its new location, 902 S. Division Ave., (state Route 26) in Polo. For more information or to schedule an appointment 815-946-2014

Jared Dambman, the second-generation owner of Dambman Lawn Mower Hospital in Polo, has just moved into his new building, which offers more than 22,000 square feet for his showroom and repair operation.

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S N G I E R FITNESS STILL

Matt Bouback is the owner of a new fitness business in downtown Oregon.

STORY AND PHOTOS JEFF HELFRICH | FOR OGLE COUNTY LIVING

STORY BEGINS ON PAGE 23

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The owner of a new business thought he was burnt out on running a gym – then he changed his mind, and with a reignited passion he opened a new fitness center, thanks in part to the people of Oregon, who sparked his interest in their hometown Story begins on page 24

Owner Matt Bouback showcases the weightlifting equipment on the first floor of his new fitness business, Reign XT, in downtown Oregon. “You walk in, I’m going to know everything there is about you and your health and fitness,” Bouback said. “Our goal is to get to know everyone by name and make sure we follow through with everyone and their goals to make sure they’re met.”

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market those projects. He was just looking for different outn 2018, a “burnt out” Matt Bouback left the gym business. lets.

He didn’t look for long.

He sold his gym in Byron. He wrote a book. He had a After thinking he’d never go back to running a brick-andworldwide talk show on health and fitness. He created an mortar gym, Bouback went on the hunt for a new one. app.

“Sometime around the middle of 2019, I started feeling With the exception of the talk show, he didn’t even really the itch again,” he said. “I missed the environment, the community and the culture. I told my wife that I wanted to get back into the gym business. She asked me if I was nuts. I said, ‘Yeah. Let’s open another gym.’”

Enter Reign XT, Oregon’s newest downtown business, at 404 W. Washington St. – but XT almost marked the spot somewhere else.

He first tried to buy back his old gym in Byron but was rebuffed. He made a list of possible communities that didn’t include Oregon, due to its smaller size.

Then he started spending time in Oregon and meeting with Mayor Ken Williams.

“The more time we spent down here, it just felt right,” Bouback said. “Everyone was coming to us and saying, ‘We want you to come into our community.’ A lot of people knew our past history at our other gyms. We had clients from Oregon.

Everybody just embraced us here.”

Continued on page 25

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I

Robert Maltry, Agent 709 N. Brinton Ave • Dixon, IL 61021 Bus: (815) 288-4206

There’s no place like Dixon.

And, like you, we’re happy to call it home. And we’re proud to be here celebrating 25 years of service.

Thank you for your business and your trust.

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. & its Operating Companies, American Family Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 002130 – Rev. 11/16 ©2016 – 11922017

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Continued from page 24 Finding a location that suited his aspirations was a tall order. Bouback wanted a big, 24-hour gym that could handle spin classes and group fitness.

When he first saw the Washington Street location, Bouback thought there was no chance that he could put his gym there. The old National Clothing House building, built in the early 1800s, had to be gutted, but it eventually became just what Bouback wanted.

“There’s not a single inch of this building that hasn’t been touched and changed,” Bouback said.

Continued on page 26

When Reign XT owner Matt Bouback first saw the old National Clothing House building on Washington Street, he didn’t think he could put his gym there. But hard work and determination prevailed, and now the 1800s-era building has been retrofitted for fitness.

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Continued from page 25 “The ceilings have been painted.

Beams have been changed out. Everything has been touched — new heating and cooling systems, bathrooms, plumbing, everything.”

Bouback originally wanted to open in October, but soon realized that construction would be an issue. Fortunately, he had some help doing the heavy lifting.

He thought he was a hard worker, until he saw the building’s owners, Mark Gale and Kevin Wiegmann, working every day,sunup to sundown.

Every brick in the building was scraped and sanded by hand to remove plaster. On the second floor – at the top of a new set of stairs – are ADA-compliant bathrooms with showers, an openspace training area, tanning rooms and a spin-cycling classroom with a view of

the historic Ogle County Courthouse.

“It’s been five to seven of us working every single day for the past 3 or 4 months,” Bouback said. “Many nights of no sleep and just grinding. Kind of the attitude of our gym — it’s all or nothing.”

Bouback was born and raised in Belvidere and wrestled at Northern Illinois University on a scholarship.He’s been a trainer since 1998 and has owned gyms in Belvidere, Rockford and Stillman Valley. He also owns a logistics company, but he plans to be at the gym as much as possible.

Bouback sees Reign XT complimenting Oregon Park District’s Nash Recreation Center rather than competing with it. Customers will find a wide range of equipment at Reign XT, including rowers, bikes and treadmills

that go up to 40 percent grade. The equipment caters to runners, mountain racers, skiers, obstacle course racers, CrossFit workouts, and more.

If you’re looking for a casual workout, Reign XT probably isn’t the place.

Guided workouts and daily challenges will pair with classes there – “I’m not going to sugar coat this one. Classes are hard,” Bouback says on the Reign XT’s website, but the gym is staffed with trained coaches who can custom fit a fitness plan for each client, ensuring they don’t push themselves beyond their capacity.

The coaches also help clients come together to create a culture of fitness built on four pillars: pride, action, commitment and community.

Continued on page 27

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Continued from page 26 “You walk in, I’m going to know everything there is about you and your health and fitness,” Bouback said. “Our goal is

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From the dedicated faithful to the casual, a Polo church has made its mark on the people who’ve entered its hallowed halls for the past 150 years Continued on page 30

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815-323-1622 815-625-3426 A series of photos on the wall of St. Mark’s in Polo show the fire and rebuilding of the church in 1918.

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A stained glass window in the back of the sanctuary at St. Mark’s Lutheran in Polo.

Continued from page 29

A

Polo church is adding another stone to its foundation: a milestone.

St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church is celebrating its sesquicentennial this year. It’s the oldest church in town that still meets at its original building, with its large walls of limestone piled high on the outside, and a colorful rosette window overlooking passersby on Division and Locust streets.

For 150 years, the church has been a beacon of faith, beckoning residents from Polo and beyond who gather every Sunday to celebrate life and faith through worship.

The church has attracted quite a following, pastor Terri Wilder said, even from those who aren’t churchgoers. Wilder, who has been pastor for 13 years, said the church has been home to everything from baptisms to funerals.

Being in a small town, St. Mark has seen plenty of generations of families come worship and serve.

“People come here and insist on being baptized here because their families were baptized here, their parents were baptized here, their grandparents were baptized here,” she said. “They may not even have a church affiliation or go to worship any-

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Baptismals are quite popular at St. Mark, and much of it has to do with its octagonal font: For more than 100 years, generations of local families have used it as part of their rite of admission and adoption into Christianity.

“We have the opportunity to baptize people and to share God’s word with a large number of ‘unchurch’ people because they feel so closely associated and historically connected here,” Wilder said.

Laurel Smith, 73, of Oregon is a Methodist convert. The Polo native joined as a teenager to go to the same church with a best friend of hers. That was in 1963, and she’s remained ever since.

Today, she’s involved in the choir, which meets on special occasions, and also cooks funeral lunches.

“It is, for the most part, pretty much like a big family,” Smith said.

Nearly 75 people took in the church’s most recent baptismal, just before the coronavirus scare limited large congregations of people.

Continued on page 31

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COME WORSHIP St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church 201 N. Division Ave., Polo, IL 61064 The Rev. Terrie Wilder, pastor Sunday school and adult education is at 9 a.m. every Sunday, with worship at 10:30 a.m.

The church’s 150th anniversary is tentatively scheduled for May 3.

The sanctuary at St. Mark’s Church in Polo.

Continued from page 30

While churches have become less of a part of some people’s lives these days, St. Mark has managed to maintain a large, spirited group of dedicated parishioners.

“St. Mark’s people are very committed to their faith, and the St. Mark’s people are very committed to each other in community,” Wilder said. “They really care about each other.”

Mission work has increased tremendously in recent years, and several of its members have traveled to Honduras, Romania and Tanzania to help people improve their way of life. The Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in north central Montana also is a longtime focus of assistance, dating back to the early 1900s.

“It’s fascinating to read through the history to see how many pastors, missionaries and people who have served God in many capacities have come out of this church,” Wilder said.

St. Mark may be the oldest continually operating church in town, but it was the third to form behind the Presbyterians and Methodists. It began on Aug. 7, 1870, and had a few temporary homes – including the earlier church buildings – before the first piles of limestone were stacked for its new home in 1872. The parsonage next door, also made of limestone, was built in 1896.

The limestone is original; not even a 1928 fire could topple

Go to stmarkspolo. com, email stmarkspolo@frontiernet.net or call 815-946-2919 for more information.

it – the rest of the church wasn’t as blessed. The fire gutted the building’s interior and destroyed the large spires that people could see for miles. The baptismal font, along with a congregation table, pastor’s chair and early church records, survived the blaze.

The churches in town form the Polo Council of Churches, a group of 10 churches from the area that work together to meet the needs of the community and beyond. They’ll also worship together and join in on local celebrations on occasion.

As far as St. Mark’s festivities are concerned, the coronavirus outbreak delayed services and threatens to disrupt Holy Week, but with enough strong church support and hospitality, they’ll pull through, Wilder said.

Tentatively, the big celebration is on May 3, with special music, a video presentation, cake, and service led by Bishop Jeffery Clements of the Northern Illinois Synod.

“With hope of having the event on that day, we hope that anyone that desires to come and worship with us, or feels they have a connection to us, is welcome to be with us,” Wilder said.

“Hospitality is very strong here. The Holy Spirit doesn’t seem to be done with us yet.” n

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