Oregon_Republican_Reporter-03-24-2023

Recycling Options

• Friday, March 24, 2023 OGLE

Ogle County Newspapers / ShawLocal.com

oglecountynews.com

ShawLocal.com

OFFICE

113-115 Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 815-732-6166, ext. 2592

SUBSCRIPTIONS

$39 in Ogle County, and $52 outside Ogle County. Single-copy price is $1

To subscribe, make a payment or discuss your delivery, call 815-732-6166, ext. 2518, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or send an email to subscriptions@ oglecountynews.com. You also can subscribe online by going to oglecountynews.com and clicking on Subscribe.

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Deadline for obituaries is 2 p.m. Tuesday for Friday’s edition

SEND NEWS news@oglecountynews.com

Publisher Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

General Manager

Earleen Hinton 815-632-2591 ehinton@shawmedia.com

News Alexa Zoellner 815-632-2590 azoellner@shawmedia.com

Advertising Sales Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

Oregon Republican Reporter, Ogle County News and oglecountynews.com are a division of Shaw Media. Ogle County Newspapers also prints the Mt. Morris Times, Forreston Journal and Polo’s Tri-County Press.

The OREGON REPUBLICAN REPORTER (USPS No. 411-420) is published weekly by B.F. Shaw Printing Co., Shaw Media. Periodical postage paid at Oregon, Illinois, 61061.

POSTMASTER Send address changes to OGLE REPUBLICAN REPORTER, P.O. Box 8, Oregon, IL 61061. Phone 815-732-6166, ext. 5306. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023

Recycle your old electronics on Friday, March 31 Apply for free permit before 4 p.m. on

March 30

The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department (OCSWMD) will host a residential electronics recycling event on Friday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 909 Pines Road in Oregon.

This event is for Ogle County residents only and a free permit is required in advance of the event. To obtain a free permit call 815-732-4020 or email solidwaste@ oglecountyil.gov and provide your name, address, phone number and email address by 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 30.

Accepted items include all televisions and computer monitors, computers, computer hardware and cables, laptops, tablets, cell phones, printers, FAX machines, scanners, shredders (no tubs), copiers, video gaming equipment, DVD/VCRs,

OREGON LIBRARY

Library Closings Listed

Please take note of our upcoming special hours in March and April: We will be closed Friday, March 31 - Saturday, April 1, and Friday, April 7 - Saturday, April 8 as the gallery floors are being refinished. The gallery will remain closed April 3 - 10.

Book Clubs

Book Clubs

Is This Just Fantasy? Book Club will meet Tuesday, March 28 , 6 p.m. at the Library to discuss The City We Became by N.K. Jemison.

The 2WBC Book Club meets April 12, at 12:30 p.m. to discuss Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Cocktails & Crimes will meet Sunday, April 16 at 5 p.m. at Ogle County Brewery. Stop by the Library to find out what you’re reading!

The Afternoon Book Club meets Wednesday, April 19, at 1 p.m. to discuss the Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.

Books on Tap meets Thursday, April 27 at 6 p.m. to discuss The Candy House by Jennifer Egan.

Preschool Story Time (18 months- 5 years)

Join us at the Library for stories and crafts on Mondays at 10 a.m. Registration is required. Go online or call to register.

YOGA - New Day – Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. Functional Yin-Yasa - This class is a hybrid of yang (active yoga) with yin (passive yoga). We will use fundamental yoga postures combined with functional movements to build strength and warmth followed by passive, long-held poses to help with flexibility and mobility of the joints and soft tissues. A yoga mat and blocks will be useful props for this class! All levels welcome. Oregon Library Patrons only. Registration required, this

cable/satellite boxes, stereo equipment, radios, digital clocks, cameras, calculators, phone systems, holiday light strands, extension cords, rechargeable batteries, printer ink cartridges, CD/DVDs, and CFL bulbs. Microwave ovens accepted for $5 per unit. Cash or check accepted. There is a limit of seven large or bulky items per permit and one permit per county household per month. Business or institutional electronic materials are not accepted at these events. Business or institutional electronics are accepted by the OCSWMD via a separate program. Call the number above for more information and pricing for business electronic recycling, and to make an appointment for drop off of the materials to be recycled. For more information about this recycling event, call the OCSWMD at the number above, visit www.oglecountyil.gov, or on Facebook at Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department.

class fills quickly.  Please call 815-732-2724 or visitwww.oregonpubliclibrary.com.

Tiny Art Show- Celebrate World Art Day - All ages, Pick up your kit now!

Pick up a Tiny Art kit anytime during the month of March (while supplies last) and return it by Thursday, April 6th to be entered into the art show. All art entries will be exhibited during the month of April. Voting will occur between April 12-29 and prizes will be awarded to those who receive the most votes.

I’m Bored... What is There to Do? - Tuesday, March 28, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., ages 8 & up You’re on break and don’t have anything to do? Well, check out your local Library! There will be a variety of crafts, games, puzzles or Legos available to challenge your imagination, or you can just come by and read or check out what the library has to offer. Supplies may be limited for specific crafts. Registration is required, but you can come any time during the time frame, 1:30 -3:30 p.m. There might even be a movie running in the background. Go online or call the Library to register.

Comic Book Workshop w/Do Art Productions

- Wednesday, March 29, 1:30 -3 p.m.

Join Do Art Productions for a comic book workshop! This is a unique experience where we begin by talking about the source of inspiration, and then lead into the different languages available to express that inspiration. We will then move into the exciting part of creating a six panel comic together, brainstorming the plot, dialogue, resolution, etc. and seeing it through to completion. At Do Art Productions, we express that the power of art is not the art but the process of art. From there we can build and develop our own

Workers carry electronic items from the back of a truck during a residential electronic recycling event offered by Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department in Oregon. Ogle County residents must pre-register by March 30 for the next event on Friday, March 31.

identity, confidence, patience, and just about any other attributes we wish to have. Register at http://www.oregonpubliclibrary.com.

Bees- The Great Pollinators - Saturday, April 22, 10:30 a.m.

Jeff Ludwig, local beekeeper, will present the life & home of the honeybee. He will share his knowledge about bees, beekeeping, how they affect the food we eat, and what plants are important to the bee’s life cycle. Register at http://www.oregonpubliclibrary.com. or call 815-732-2724.

Puzzle Library

The library has a free puzzle library. Take a puzzle, leave a puzzle. This is open to anyone in the community.

OPLD Dial-A-Story

Need a quick story? Call 815-732-2724, follow the prompts and presto...a story! Children’s stories are changed monthly. Current story- Stacey’s Remarkable Books by Stacey Abrams.

Oregon Writers Group - 2nd Tuesday each month at 10 a.m.

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.

Passport Services

The Oregon Public Library offers Passport Application Processing. Patrons seeking Passport Services should call the Library prior to their visit to ensure that an official processor is available at that time and for a checklist of items, you will need for the appointment.

Earleen Hinton Shaw Media

Rochelle student seriously injured after stabbing

By KELSEY RETTKE and ALEXA ZOELLNER krettke@shawmedia.com azoellner@shawmedia.com

A 17-year-old Rochelle Township High School student suffered serious injuries Monday after a reported stabbing that also prompted a temporary school lockdown, the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office said.

Another student suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

Students were dismissed early Monday following the stabbing that district officials said they believe was isolated between the two students.

According to a news release from the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, an Ogle County deputy requested an ambulance to the high school following reports of a student who had been stabbed about 9:24 a.m. Monday.

The incident involved two male 17-year-old students. Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said authorities haven’t yet identified a motive, although the incident remains under investigation.

“Both students had injuries from knife wounds, and they were both in the extremities,” VanVickle said.

A tourniquet was used on an injury received by the student with serious injuries, VanVickle said.

Both were taken by Rochelle Fire

Department paramedics to Rochelle Community Hospital, although the teenager with more serious injures was later flown to a Rockford area hospital, authorities said. His condition wasn’t known Monday afternoon.

Superintendent Jason Harper sent an email to Rochelle School District 212 families that said Rochelle Township High School students were dismissed at 10:30 a.m. Monday because of “an altercation that took place today between two students, and the need for a continued investigation by law enforcement.”

“We understand that this is a frightening time for students, parents, staff and our community,” Harper wrote in the email. “We will allow for students to see their counselor before exiting the building if they feel they need to talk to someone about the events of the day.”

Harper did not respond to additional requests for comment. Phone calls to Rochelle Deputy Police Chief Terry Inman also were not returned.

Rochelle Township High School, 1401 E. Flagg Road, Rochelle, was immediately placed on lockdown, according to the sheriff’s office, requiring students to stay in classrooms. According to a news release from the district, lockdown protocols included an on-site police school resource officer, school nurse and other personnel until additional law enforcement and

paramedics arrived.

Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock and Sheriff Brian VanVickle are shown here in a Shaw Media file photo.

All after-school programming was canceled, according to the district.

Police learned that the two teenaged students were involved in the incident, which remains under investigation by the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office.

No arrests or charges have been announced.

Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock said Monday afternoon that his office had been working in tandem with the sheriff’s office as more details come to light.

“Once the investigation is complete – it’s ongoing – we’ll review it all and determine what charges, if any, are appropriate,” Rock said. “Once the officers put together all the reports and bring that to me, then I’d be in a better position to answer questions. They’ve been very good about keeping in touch, and we’ve been discussing the case all day.”

No additional details have yet been

released about the incident.

In Harper’s email, he detailed steps for early dismissal: Students exited the building under the supervision of law enforcement and were expected to leave campus. Buses were provided for students. Families who planned to pick up students were directed to the back of the building to the designated parent pick up area, the email shows.

“All indications are that this is an isolated situation between two students,” Harper wrote in the email. “No other Rochelle School building is impacted.”

All other District 212 buildings remained in session Monday, according to Harper’s email. Though parents wishing to pick up their student early were accommodated, the email shows.

“RTHS will communicate next steps to parents and the community when more information is known,” Harper wrote.

VanVickle, who resigned from the Rochelle Township High School board last month after he moved, commended high school staff on their response.

“Everything that we’ve done and put in place and supported to reduce any further threats to kids and staff was implemented right away,” VanVickle said. “Although there was no ongoing threat, I think it really demonstrated the ability to protect the kids.”

Ogle board picks HR payroll, time-keeping system

Paycom selected from seven bids

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

Ogle County’s human resource record-keeping is getting an upgrade.

On March 21, Ogle County Board members voted to purchase a human resource information system from Paycom, an Oklahoma City-based company. The system will allow for record-keeping of time and payroll.

A voice vote was cast on whether to purchase Paycom’s services; one person voted “no.” Shaw Media was unable to identify who cast the “no” vote.

“This thing has been vetted,” Chairperson John Finfrock said. “We have gone through several meetings. We’ve had surveys. We’ve done background checks with the various companies.”

Seven companies were considered,

with the two finalists being Paycom and ADP, he said. Paycom was the cheaper of the two, and seemed to meet all the county’s requirements, Finfrock said.

“This is something that is required for record-keeping due to the fact that we need that and have not had it for a long time,” he said.

The one-time cost of initial setup and training is $6,500. The estimated cost per pay period is $1,543.69. That number is based on 245 checks being cut every two weeks, which is how often Ogle County pays employees.

There also are annual fees for certain tax documents: W-3 transmittal is $75; Forms 1094-B or 1094-C are $75; employer and employee W-2s are $6.95 per W-2; and Forms 1095-B and 1095-C are $6.95 per 1095 form.

“It’s going to be really difficult to give an annual cost,” Board Member Bruce Larson said. “The cost is actually going to fluctuate every pay period, because it’s a cost per pay period for the number of people get-

ting paid.”

During a pay period where an election takes place, more people will be on the payroll than usual, so the biweekly cost would be higher, he said as an example. Whereas, if there are board members who miss meetings, the cost would be lower, Larson said.

The only real way to determine an annualized average cost will be to do the math at the end of the year, he said.

ADP would cost about $100 more per person per payroll, Larson said.

There is no contract locking Ogle County into using Paycom for a specific period of time, he said. The county can stop using it anytime, Larson said.

Board Member Susie Corbitt questioned whether the customer support for Paycom is as good as ADP’s.

“If we call into the support team, even if we can’t get ahold of our support manager, there’ll be somebody to answer the call and help with whatever issue we’re having,” Larson said. “They’re both very similar in that. For all of the reviews I was able to find, they’re very similar in their ratings and a lot of the comparatives were very close.”

Corbitt said that, while she understands the need for the county to be compliant with payroll regulations, she felt “like we’re being rushed into this. It’s just my opinion.”

The historic Ogle County Courthouse is located at the corner of Illinois Routes 64 and 2 in downtown Oregon.

By ALEXA ZOELLNER azoellner@shawmedia.com

Three seats on the Forreston Village Board of Trustees are up for grabs in the April 4 election.

Gary Buss, Monty Cotter, Kenneth Vinnedge and Mahmoud “Mike” Zayed are vying for the three trustee positions. Buss, Cotter and Vinnedge are the incumbents.

Shaw Media conducted individual interviews with the four candidates. Below are their responses.

Gary Buss

Gary Buss, 68, is running for the office of Village of Forreston trustee.

He worked for Rogers Ready-Mix & Materials in its Byron location for 26 years until retiring about two years ago.

Buss, a lifelong Forreston resident, said he has served as a village trustee for 20 years.

“It seems like just yesterday [I first was elected],” Buss said. “Time goes fast, that’s for sure.”

Why do you want to be a trustee?

“I just try to make Forreston a good community to live in,” Buss said. “A place that people want to move and

reside in Forreston.”

Hopefully, he has done a good job and people will reelect him, Buss said.

“I’ve tried to be fiscally responsible every year,” he said. “There’s a lot of places you’ve got to watch what you’re spending nowadays.”

What are three issues facing Forreston, and how would you address them if elected?

1. Improving drainage and storm sewers in the village.

The village is doing work every year on improving drainage and storm sewers, Buss said. It’s an ongoing concern that needs to be addressed annually.

2. Make progress on adding walking paths around Forreston.

“We’re trying to get some of that in the works, so we can get it engineered,” Buss said. “We do finally have some money in for the engineering where we can get started on figuring out where to put the paths.”

He’d like to get the community involved in that process, to see where people would like to see the paths start and where they’d like them to run.

3. Improve the village parks.

Various possibilities have been brought to the village board, such as adding a skate park, Buss said.

It’s important to make the parks a nice place to go in Forreston, he said.

Why should people vote for you?

“I think, over the last years I’ve been in office, I’ve always tried to keep us within the budget and tried to keep control on the spending,” Buss said. “I try to get a bigger bang for our buck, and try to keep us going forward.”

Buss said the board has done a lot over the past several years and he wants to continue that path.

“If somebody calls me with a question, I try to get back with them to answer the questions, like on why we’re doing certain things,” he said. “I’ve always felt, if somebody calls me about a concern, that’s part of your job.”

What is a fun fact about you?

Buss said he enjoys getting out in the community where he can talk to people and see what everyone’s up to.

“Now that I’ve retired, I really enjoy that more than anything,” he said. “I have time to visit with people, and spend more time doing things. Hopefully I’ll get more involved with the community, whether it’s with the Lions – maybe helping them out a little more – or things like that.”

Monty Cotter

Monty Cotter, 69, is seeking reelection to the Forreston Village Board of Trustees.

He has lived in Forreston for almost 30 years, and was a businessperson in the village for 20 years. Cotter now is retired.

Cotter has served as a trustee for four years. Among his trustee duties is sitting on the village board’s Parks Committee, he said.

“I still sometimes feel I’m getting my feet wet,” Cotter said. “It’s always a learning process. We try to do the best we can.”

Why do you want to be a trustee?

“I care about the town, and I would like to see it move forward as best it can in the future,” he said. “I want to try to look at new and inventive things to do.”

Forreston officials are on the right path with installing new water mains, new sewers and getting the water treatment plant built back up, he said. The new village hall, on which renovations recently were completed, will help, Cotter said.

Businesses also are a priority, and the Business Development District and Tax Increment Financing Districts are helping, he said.

What are three issues facing Forreston, and how would you address them if elected?

1. Increase community members’ involvement.

“We need to listen to the people and try to do the best we can as far as improvements for the village,” Cotter said.

He said he would like to get more people involved in helping to organize community events, and performing functions at those events.

The Forreston Area Business Association is trying, but it’s difficult to get people involved and volunteering, Cotter said.

“I know Jane [Koeller] does a fantastic job, and she’s got a good core group, but I’d like to see more people involved in that,” he said.

2. Improve the village parks.

Cotter wants to see more happen with the village parks, but noted the financial constraints in doing so.

“It’s hard,” he said. “There’s only so many tax dollars that come in to us for parks, so it puts a crunch on us.”

3. Continue to assist businesses.

Getting people involved and keeping businesses downtown is important, Cotter said. The BDD and TIF District are helping with retainment, he said.

“I try to look to see what we can do for betterments and getting people involved and keeping people downtown,” Cotter said.

Why should people vote for you?

Cotter said he believes he’s done well so far as a trustee. People know him and know his involvement in, and concern for, Forreston, he said.

“They can pick who they want to be on there. That’s why it’s an election,” Cotter said. “I haven’t done anything better than anybody else. I thought I did a pretty good job holding down things for the last four years, but we’ll see what they [voters] think.”

What is a fun fact about you?

Cotter said he likes to joke around and have fun, including singing barbershop.

Gary Buss

Monty Cotter

Trial program announced for plastic bag recycling

If you want to get rid of that bag of plastic bags cluttering your cupboard, the Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department (OCSWMD) can help.

The department is now running a trial program for plastic bag and plastic film recycling for residents of Ogle County.

“The abundance of plastic bags is a major environmental issue and many county residents have issues with access to a recycling program that accepts these items. The OCSWMD understands this and wants to help

• ELECTION

Continued from Page 4

Kenneth “Ken” Vinnedge

Ken Vinnedge, 66, is running to serve as a trustee for the village of Forreston.

Vinnedge, who moved to Forreston in 1970, has served as a village trustee for 6.5 years. His service is split between his current four-year term; a six-month term he was selected for to fill out an unexpired term of Mark Metzger, who now is the village president; and a two-year term.

He is retired from his job as a project manager/specialist for the Byron nuclear plant, where he worked for 32 years.

Why do you want to be a trustee?

“I like Forreston. I care,” Vinnedge said. “That’s why I got on the board.”

An issue with a proposed garbage pickup requirement and associated cost is what first drove him to join the board, he said.

“I had an old neighbor that really didn’t want it,” Vinnedge said. “He explained to me the problem. So I went to a board meeting, and that’s about the time when Metzger became president, and so I thought, ‘Well, maybe I’ll give it a try.’”

When he was selected, and later elected, as a trustee, Vinnedge was placed in charge of water and sewer. He said he has worked to improve the systems, while also keeping costs down as much as possible.

keep as much plastic as we can out of landfills and the environment, and provide a means to recycle these materials,” department officials said in a press release.

This program started March 6 and continues until Wednesday, Sept. 6. Items accepted include empty, clean, and dry grocery bags, bread bags, cereal bags, plastic shipping envelopes and wrap, case overwrap, bubble wrap, salt bags, Ziploc bags, and clean, dry produce bags.

Ogle County residents can drop off their plastic bags anytime for recy -

cling at the County Annex Building located at 909 Pines Road in Oregon (blue recycling bin by entrance) or at the old Ogle County Courthouse in the 100 block of South Fourth Street (Illinois 2) in downtown Oregon. Bags can be placed in the recycling bin located on the first floor lobby during business hours.

Plastic bags also will be accepted at all other recycling events hosted by the OCSWMD throughout the above listed time period.

“While recycling these plastic bags is beneficial and important, the

OCSWMD reminds residents that waste reduction must come before recycling. The OCSWMD encourages residents to avoid excess packaging and seek out reusable options for packaging whenever possible,” officials said.

For a list of accepted bags or more information about recycling in Ogle County, call the OCSWMD at 815-7324020, email solidwaste@oglecountyil. gov, visit the county website at www. oglecountyil.gov, or go to Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department on Facebook.

What are three issues facing Forreston, and how would you address them if elected?

1. Continue to improve the village’s water system.

Village officials are in the process of looking at possible grants to help them continue making improvements to the water systems, Vinnedge said.

“I got all the lead lines replaced here in town free of charge,” he noted. “Now, I’m doing water meter replacements because they’re beyond their end-of-life. That’s the next project.”

Water mains also need replacing, as most are from the late 1930s, Vinnedge said. Many of the fire hydrants in Forreston aren’t usable because the water mains are too small, he said.

“We’re trying to improve the insurance code here in town to be able to use those,” Vinnedge said.

2. Address blighted homes and garbage sitting outside.

Village board members are working to address that, he said.

3. Make progress on adding walking paths around Forreston.

The walking path through Forreston is an ongoing topic of discussion, Vinnedge said.

“We’d like to try to tie in the parks and an exercise path,” he said. “The AT&T tower, when we got it, our proposal was to use the funds from that to start putting in a walking path.”

Why should people vote for you?

“I care,” Vinnedge said. “I don’t advertise that I’m running or anything like that. If people want me to run, that’s fine.”

He, his four children and their families all live in Forreston, Vinnedge noted.

“My grandkids are going to the same school I went to,” he said. “This town means quite a bit to me.”

What is a fun fact about you?

Now that he’s retired, Vinnedge said he greatly enjoys spending time with his seven grandchildren multiple days every week.

Mahmoud “Mike” Zayed

Mahmoud “Mike” Zayed, 39, is vying for a seat on the Forreston Village Board of Trustees.

Zayed has lived in Forreston for almost two years. He works as an automotive mechanic for Forreston Car Care.

He is a volunteer firefighter with the Forreston Fire Protection District, but does not have any previous elected experience, Zayed said.

“I’m just hoping, if I get the chance, we’ll go from there,” he said.

Why do you want to be a trustee?

“When I moved to the town, me, my wife and my family fell in love with the village,” Zayed said. “But there are some antiquated rules that could use some updating.”

Multiple people have told him that having a fresh person with a fresh pair of eyes on the board could help significantly, he said.

“I’m trying to do what I can for my community, my town,” Zayed said. “I’m trying to be involved, but a little bit more than going out in the community, going to a church or something like that.”

What are three issues facing Forreston, and how would you address them if elected?

1. Continue to run village business smoothly.

“It seems like the village runs really well,” Zayed said. “I haven’t really seen many issues that need immediate fixing.”

2. Update some of the antiquated laws Forreston still has on the books.

There are some laws that, while he understands the idea behind them, still are more “old-school” than necessary, Zayed said. He pointed to a law that prohibits small fire pits in one’s own backyard after 9 p.m. as an example of something to change.

“I’m not talking about having a 30-foot flame,” he said. “I’m talking about a little ring you buy from Menards. If you want to sit out there with your friends and family, I don’t see why that should be against the rules.”

There are laws that seem to date to Forreston’s founding, Zayed said. He emphasized that he doesn’t want to change Forreston, but would like to bring some of its views into the 21st century.

“Maybe having somebody with a younger view can help with that,” Zayed said.

Why should people vote for you?

There are many younger families moving into town, and it helps for them to have a voice, he said.

“I want to be that voice, if you will,” Zayed said. “Just give it a chance to see what a younger person’s views can do for the village itself.”

What is a fun fact about you?

Zayed said he’s very much a family man, and loves to spend time with his wife and their four sons.

“I’m a family guy, I’m a homebody and I love working with cars,” Zayed said.

Kenneth Vinnedge

Mahmoud “Mike” Zayed

SPECIAL EVENTS

Visitors to the Oregon Woman’s Club’s Antique Show check out one of the booths at the 2022 show. This year’s event is Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and March 26.

Oregon Women’s Club annual antique show is this weekend

The Oregon Women’s Club will host its annual antique show and vintage market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at the Blackhawk Center, 1101 W. Jefferson St.

Admission is $6.

The antique show will feature more than 40 antique dealers exhibiting their items. Lunch is being provided by the Ladies of Chana United Method-

Camp Grant to be topic at Oregon Depot Museum program on March 25

The March 25 Oregon Depot Museum program will feature the history of Camp Grant, the Rockford military training base for WWI and WWII. The program will be presented by the Rockford Midway Village Museum staff.

Camp Grant was developed in 1917. There were tens of thousands troops trained there during WWI, over 300,000 troops during WWII. There were about 1,500 buildings on the site.

ist Church.

Hack’s Auction and Realty Services agents are offering antique appraisals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 26. A $5 per item donation will be charged to the Oregon Women’s Club. Photographs of large items may be appraised. A written appraisal can be discussed with agents.

For information, email kathew1968@yahoo.com.

The camp was covering about 5,000 acres, most of what is now the Rockford International Airport.

The February program featured the history of Ulysses S. Grant, the general of the Union Army.

Camp Grant was named after Grant, the 18th president of the United States.

The program will begin at 10 a.m. at the Oregon Depot Museum, 401 Collins St.

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“This program is one you will not want to miss as it offers a glimpse of local history that only a few persons living today can remember,” Depot board member Chris Martin said. For additional details about this or any other Depot program, call Otto Dick at 815-440-0639, Roger Cain 815-757-9715 or Chris Martin at 815742-8471.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Photo supplied by Chris Martin Troops walk in a line at Camp Grant. The base will be the topic of the March 25 program at the Oregon Depot Museum.

Is it time for a book on White Pines State Park?

This past week several of us met at the museum to organize, finish up on projects, and see what else needs to be tackled. There is always something to do.

Mike came in with a new dehumidifier with a pump that pumps water through the wall to the furnace room and into the sink. The old one had a part broken and did not pump so it had to be emptied every day.

Our cement block walls draw moisture and we hate to be doing a rain dance to stop the rain so a new machine was in order. The old one can be moved to a place where we will have books, magazines and etc.

Also Ted has discovered we have places outside that are bringing moisture into the building so this will need to be corrected.

When we all were closed down with COVID, businesses, churches, museums and schools suffered. We are all trying to make up for that neglect and Polo Historical Society was not any different even though we are a small

Betty Obendorf

community.

Ted is busy at the Henry School redoing all the windows that are falling apart so you may notice work going on there.

This week Mike finished up getting the glass into the original Schryver cabinet that held Native American artifacts. This time it will hold the Blough collection of arrow heads. Linda could help hold the glass since I was no good at that kind of thing.

Mike and I placed all the totes with Christmas decorations in another place so the furnace room looks a bit better. We are running out of space and we are trying to figure out how we can better use what we have.

Then Linda and I put stuff away and finished going through the last of Jesse’s pictures. I am ready to finish up his life after he left the Pines and I do not have any dates as to when that might have been.

Linda got into records of the Pines and that is another whole new story. We have all sorts of wonderful pictures of the White Pines State Park and two very large folders of information.

After the last of Jesse’s pictures were filed away waiting for Lily to handle this summer, we spread out the Pines information and pictures. We started reading and I had done a timeline years ago.

There was a great life out there before it became a state park and Linda found it most interesting. She and Charlie came to Polo because of a trip to the Pines.

We have always talked of doing a book on the Pines but other things came first. Linda and I looked at each other and thought, is it possible that

now is the time? Could we really pull this off now?

But first I have to finish on Jesse and the pictures of the rest of his life after the Pines. Those pictures I have kept out so I can tell the rest of the story.

The first stack of pictures have the date 1990 and they show his carpentry work in the community. He made decks, shelving units, a trailer to hold engines and bird houses. He has them all clearly marked and he is proud of his work.

The trailer reminds me of the one my father built to hold camping equipment. The back had a door that came down to make a little kitchen and it held all of our food supplies.

People were creative and Jesse was one of those individuals.

• Betty Obendorf is a retired teacher and a volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.

1913 Oregon yearbook was called ‘The Cardinal’

By OTTO DICK

This information was found in the 1913 Oregon High School yearbook. Volume III

“To Miss Salzmann, for her untiring efforts, kindly sympathy and ready desire to help the betterment of our school, we do respectfully dedicate (The Cardinal).”

Jessie B. Salzmann was the principal, also teaching Latin and German. Frank G. Taylor was the superintendent of the Oregon Grade School and Oregon High School.

The faculty consisted of seven teachers. Subjects taught were science, history, mathematics, English, music, drawing and penmanship.

The School Board of Education was composed of seven influential Oregon leaders. These were S.J. Lindsay, F. E. Reed, Z. R. Landers, B. F. Shelly, C.D. Etnyre, J. Sears and C.S. Haas.

It’s interesting that a local minister, S.J. Lindsay was the school board president.

The faculty section of the Cardinal listed favorite sayings of the faculty. Miss Wilson’s saying was “We’ve had no trouble so far this year. Now let us not spoil our good record. Another favorite saying was by Miss Perkins, “Leave the room! I can see your knee above that seat.”

The 1913 Senior Class graduated a

total of 27 students. Their class roll included a statement about each senior. “Carla Sears, a daughter of the gods, divinely tall.” “Herbert McGee, some small men have become great.”

The number of students in the junior class was 17, sophomore class 17, and the freshman class numbered 35. I attended church with Delos Andrew and the year I graduated from Oregon High School, I worked for Henry Mattison on his construction crew as a carpenter’s helper.

Music groups under the direction of Miss Salzmann were the high school

chorus, high school orchestra, boys Glee Club and girls Quartette.

Track and field meets were held at the Ogle County Fair Grounds. They changed into track gear at the Coliseum on their way to the fair grounds.

Miscellaneous school events were held at one of the churches, Masonic Temple and the Opera House.

Before the ad section in the Cardinal was a list of Oregon High School Alumni from 1876 to 1912, their procession, and where they were living in 1913.

An extension O.H.S. Diary listed

Sept. 9, as a usual rush for back seats and May 20 the Cardinal Annual goes to press.

And finally the O.H.S. students wished to thank the merchants and boosters of the Cardinal for their ads and liberal donations which made the annual possible: “We sincerely hope that everyone who purchases an annual will read the ads and profit by it.”

• Otto Dick is a retired teacher and has researched Ogle County history for several years.

Photos provided by Otto Dick The Nash High School was located where the Oregon Park District’s Nash Recreation Center is now located, at the southwest corner of Madison and South Fifth streets in Oregon.

Plenty of family fun on tap at 4-H Penny Carnival

Games were created and operated by Ogle County 4-H Club members

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

Kids could try tossing rolled up socks into a cardboard washing machine or become “Hungry Hippos” and munch up plastic balls with small clothes baskets – all for pocket change at the Ogle County 4-H Penny Carnival.

The 2023 event, held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon on March 18, allowed kids to play a variety of games created by 4-H Club members – for a quarter.

Connor Clark, 8, of Rochelle had so much fun trying to guide a pink balloon pig into its pen with a flyswatter at the The Leaf River Soaring Eagles’ booth that he played twice.

When asked if he had experience herding pigs, he smiled and said: “No, I live in an apartment.”

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Alana and Allen Smith, ages 7 and 5, of Leaf River take part in the Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club’s game of “Hungry Hippos” during the Penny Carnival on Saturday, March 18, at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon. The family-fun event is a fundraiser for the 4-H program.

PENNY CARNIVAL

Continued from Page 8

Brother and sister Alana (7) and Allen (5) Smith of Leaf River laid flat on scooters armed with a plastic baskets and became hungry hippos to try to catch as many balls as they could during their timed turn at the Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club’s booth.

And Wyatt (6) and Eileen (2) Frewin of Oregon giggled as they tossed rolled up socks toward a cardboard washer and dryer made by the Ogle County Clovers.

Some of the other games offered by clubs included the Grand Detour Greens’ “4-Hopoly” with big inflatable dice, Pinecreek Valley’s “Tic-Tac-Toe” with velcro tennis balls, a walk-around “Chutes and Ladders” game by the BY Badgers, and the Carefree 4-H Club’s memory card game.

Prizes were awarded win or lose during the “4-H Family Game Night!” theme. 4-H is the youth development program of University of Illinois Extension.

For more information about the Ogle County 4-H program, call Ogle County Extension at 815-732-2191 or visit online at https://extension.illinois.edu/bdo/4-h-ogle-county.

SM-ST2057812

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Wyatt Frewin, 6, of Oregon, tosses a sock into a cardboard washer at the 4-H Penny Carnival on Saturday, March 18, at the the Blackhawk Center in Oregon. The Ogle County Clovers 4-H Club offered this game for participants.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Connor Clark, 8, of Rochelle herds a balloon pig into its pen with a fly swatter at the Leaf River Soaring Eagles’ booth at the 4-H Penny Carnival on Saturday, March 18.

Oregon band students in grades 5-12 played in front of a packed house March 16 at the 28th Annual Band Extravaganza at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon. Clockwise from left are Oregon High School’s Bryan Immel playing the bassoon; David Eckardt (left) a junior high student plays the piano while OHS senior Grant Stender plays the clarinet; Lexton Pham, a member of the Oregon Junior High Band, plays the clarinet; OHS’s Dawson Berg plays the harp; and OHS band members Evan James (left) and Emmett Peterson play their saxophones. Music students played 12 movie-related selections to the delight of the crowd.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Contestants battle to the wire at the Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Spelling Bee

By TROY E. TAYLOR ttaylor@shawmedia.com

If you’re gonna win a regional spelling bee and earn a first-ever visit to the nation’s capital, why not do it on the word “superlative”?

That’s what Alexander Ottens did in the 13th round to capture the Lee-Ogle-Whiteside Regional Spelling Bee on March 9 at Wiltz Auditorium at Dixon High School.

But if you ask him, the word he encountered that best describes the moment was his second-rounder, “astounding.”

“I’m pretty astounded,” he said.

Ottens is an eighth grader who attends PLT Middle School and lives in rural Lyndon with his parents Ashley and Chad Ottens.

Ottens plays sports, including baseball, basketball and football. When asked if he’s the best speller on the defensive line, he smiled broadly. “Probably,” he said.

Now he’s qualified for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which begins May 28 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The preliminary round will be May 30 and the finals will be June 1.

The final three rounds were between Ottens and Jake Bailey, a seventh-grader from United Christian School in Fulton.

Ottens spelled “shenanigans” and Bailey answered with “platitude.” Then Ottens spelled “immie,” which is a small ball, like a marble. Bailey, however, misspelled “galvanize”, setting up Ottens for his final word. He offered up a big sigh after nailing it.

When the field opened with 31 competitors, Ottens spelled “owlishly” in the first round, leaped over the aforementioned “astounding” in the second, and in turn, spelled “merchandise,” “hijab,” “castor,” “bodkin,” “genteel” and “solstice.”

By then, the field was whittled to four, all of whom were relaxed, confident spellers. The other two were Forreston Junior-Senior High sixthgrader Cora Schmidt, who finished third, and Amboy Junior High sixthgrader Parker Zimmerly, who was fourth.

Ottens knocked down “jarl,” which is a type of Norse chieftain that he said he knew from playing the online game Totally Accurate Battle Simulator.

Ottens had been a methodical, purposeful speller for most of the competition, but the next round with “astringent” he zipped through the letters. A leap of faith, going so quickly?

“I was, like, still a little bit unsure, so I just went with it,” he said.

Tom Wadsworth, who was serving as presenter for the 41st year, said Ottens was clearly a competitor who drilled on the word lists.

“He studied. That was clear,” said Wadsworth, who prefaced his introduction by saying how difficult this year’s words list was. “The number one determinant of kids that do well is study.”

After the competition Ottens posed for a photo with quiz bowl teammate Taylor Robshaw of Erie Middle School. Robshaw was making her fourth appearance in the regional bee and Ottens said he considered her a contender from the outset.

Robshaw lasted until the fourth round – leaving on “rehearsal” – when the Level 2 words kicked in and the field was trimmed by four.

By the fifth round another four contestants were gone. One more bowed out in the sixth. The seventh round culling was particularly tough, seeing four depart.

Those middle rounds eliminated Oregon Elementary’s Lia Tran, a sixth grader in pink boots, matching tulle skirt and stuffed animal purse who was unofficially the most polite con-

testant, quietly saying “thank you” to the presenter after every round. She slipped through on “cockles” in the fourth round even after having to go back and restart the word, a tough trick. But the next round she stepped out on “equinox.”

Byron Middle School’s Miya Dunk lasted into the next round, advancing on “oxygenate” but stepping out on “nonvolatile.” That was also the round that Zimmerly’s face lit up before he started on “tangerine” and appeared equally pleased to get “Ukrainian” in the eighth round. Meanwhile Morrison Junior High’s Mason Banks, adorned in his red bow tie, avoided a misstep when he asked if his word was “quay”, when in fact, it was “whey”, which he then spelled out correctly.

Banks eventually went out on “cornel” in that brutal seventh that also claimed Noah McKinney from Rochelle Middle with “festooned”, Nathan Stauter from Reagan Middle in Dixon with “chintzy” and A.J. Moore from Montmorency in Rock Falls with “saltatory.”

Schmidt stayed alive by spelling “platoon,” “ordinance” and “stridency” before running afoul of “quiddity.” Bailey stayed in the hunt by spelling “juvenilia,” “statuesque” and “tapioca.”

It was a year in which the boys did well and broke the near-stranglehold girls have had on the championship title, Wadsworth said. In the past 24 years, girls have won 21 titles, including last year’s Namaste Rose and 2021’s and 2020’s champion Kathleen Keesey.

Thursday’s event had been postponed from Feb. 16, when a winter storm the day before prompted classes to be called off across the region. That meant a delay of 22 days since Wadsworth had conducted the 90-minute rehearsal with the contestants – a tradition that’s meant to promote decorum and alleviate nervous tension on the big stage.

“I was concerned that they might have forgotten all the stuff we went through,” Wadsworth said. “We’re just trying to get them to lose the jitters, get comfortable up there under the lights, coming up to the microphone and the big sound system and all that stuff. But they did well.”

The judges were Jaclynn BasleerHeather, Candace Lind and Addie Pace.

What did they win?

Here are the awards, which were presented by Regional Superintendent Chris Tennyson and Josh Knuth of the Regional Office of Education 47, and Carol Gehrt of First National Bank in Amboy.

Everyone: School champion medal and Spelling Bee lapel pin.

Third: $25 Amazon gift card.

Second: Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and $50 Amazon gift card.

First: Trip to Scripps National Spelling Bee, 2023 United States Mint proof set, year online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica, year online subscription to Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary, and a $75 Amazon gift card.

Alexander Ottens of Lyndon cinches victory by spelling ‘superlative’ in 13th round

Alexander Ottens of Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico Middle School won the event.

Forreston’s Cora Schmidt finished third. Oregon Elementary sixth grader Lia Tran.

Photos by Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Softball

Oregon 12, Milledgeville 10: After falling behind 7-2 in the first three innings, the Hawks rallied with a sixth-run fourth, then held off a late Missiles surge with a two-run sixth for the nonconference win on Monday.

Ella Dannhorn, Reilee Suter and Sarah Stevens drove in two runs apiece for Oregon; Suter hit a two-run double.

Milledgeville’s Kendra Kingsby went 2 for 2 with four RBIs on two home runs along with three walks, while teammate Alexis Janssen went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two doubles.

Emma Schlitchmann threw 3 2/3 innings for the Hawks, allowing four hits and three earned runs, while striking out one and walking three. Ava Hackman struck out five batters to seal the win.

Kingsby took the loss, throwing five strikeouts and allowing nine earned runs and five hits across 5 1/3 innings.

Oregon 12, Indian Creek 10: Ella Dannhorn crushed two home runs, and Reilee Suter and Gracen Pitts homered once each as the Hawks squeaked past the Timberwolves.

Emma Schlitchtmann struck out six batters in four innings as Oregon improved to 2-0.

Forreston 9, Warren/Stockton 0: Rylee Broshous and Ella Engram each hit a home run, and Aubrey Sanders threw a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts as the Cardinals cruised past the Warhawks.

Broshous went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, including the home run for Forreston, while Engram went 2 for 4 with the home run and a double, and Brooke Boettner went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Elaina Martin smacked a triple for Warren/ Stockton.

Baseball

Oregon 19, Earlville 2: The Hawks took a 4-2 lead in the first inning and kept piling on runs in a four-inning victory over the Red Raiders.

Miley Smith scored three runs and went 1 for 3 with three RBIs, Nole Campos went 2 for 2 with one RBI, and Keaton Salsbury scored three runs and drew four walks to go with one RBI.

Campos pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings,

CORRECTION

allowing one hit and zero walks, while striking out four.

Polo 1, Durand-Pecatonica 0: In a defensive struggle, Polo finally broke through in the fourth inning, as Carter Merdian drove in Gage Zeigler for the go-ahead run.

Nolan Hahn and Merdian combined for the shutout on the mound.

Hahn allowed three hits and one walk while striking out seven in four innings. Merdian allowed one hit and zero walks while striking out seven in three innings.

Oregon 12, Indian Creek 6: The Hawks jumped ahead with a six-run first inning, then scored in every inning but the fifth to seal their win.

Dom Terlikowski went 3 for 4 and Keaton Salsbury went 2 for 3 with one RBI as the leading Oregon batters. Logan Weems scored three runs and drove in another.

Miley Smith pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, one unearned run and two walks, with two strikeouts.

Drake Mickler went 2 for 4 to lead Indian Creek.

Track & Field

Westwood Invite: Sterling, Forreston-Polo and Erie-Prophetstown competed in a triangular at Westwood, with the Golden Warriors winning seven events and the Cardinals taking six.

Thomas Holcomb and Cale Ledergerber each won an individual event and a relay for Sterling. Holcomb won the 1,600 and teamed with Jordan Britt, Parker Blakeslee and Parker Janssen to take the 4x400, while Ledergerber won the long jump and joined Joseph Holcomb, Kael Ryan and Maurice Delacruz to win the 4x200.

Dale Johnson won the 800, Andrew Bland took the 60 high hurdles, and Ian Hilty, Aalin Schmidt, Byron Grobe and Evan Merema teamed up to take the 4x800 for the Warriors.

McKeon Crase led Forreston-Polo with wins in the 60 and 200 meters, while Brock Soltow took the 400, Johnny Kobler won the shot put, Michael Taylor took the high jump, and Parker Holdorf won the pole vault.

Caleb Eads won the triple jump for the Panthers’ lone first-place finish.

Oregon High School has had two baseball teams advance to the sectional tournament. In addition to the 2013 team mentioned in a March 17 article, the 1999 team also advanced but lost its sectional semifinal to Putnam County 6-0.

The 2013 team won its sectional, but lost to Eureka 7-6 in the supersectional final.

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

ABOVE: Oregon shortstop Reilee Suter zeros in on first base to throw out a Milledgeville player during Monday, March 20, action at Dillehay Park in Mt. Morris. RIGHT: Oregon’s Abree Barker slides into home ,The game was moved from Oregon to Mt. Morris due to wet field conditions at Oregon Park West.

Girls basketball: SVM coach of the year Grobe leads Polo to first regional title in 15 years

By DAN WUSSOW dwussow@shawmedia.com

For 15 years, a regional championship eluded the Polo girls basketball team.

The last time the Lady Marcos hoisted a regional plaque in 2008, Cliff Bardell was the head coach and Jeff Grobe was an assistant.

In 2023, the long wait finally ended. With a 49-43 win over Amboy in the Class 1A Amboy Regional championship last month, Polo again made program history – with the next generation leading the way: head coach Jason Grobe (Jeff’s son) and assistant Tommy Bardell (Cliff’s son).

For helping the Marcos rally from a slow start and guiding them to their first regional title in more than a decade, Jason Grobe has been named the 2022-23 SVM Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

“It was just a good group of kids. It was fun coming to practice everyday. A lot of talent there – I just had to get them to believe in themselves,” Grobe said. “Tommy and I, we told them from the beginning of the season, ‘2008 was a long time ago. That’s too long of a wait.’ So we knew we had the talent to make sure we were going to get this done, and I just reinforced that as much as I could to them all year.”

Early in the season, the Marcos took their lumps.

They opened the 2022-23 campaign with three straight losses – all by 15 or more points – to Morrison, Aquin and Oregon.

After a 50-37 loss to Amboy on Jan. 4, their record was 7-9 just past the halfway point of the season.

Although the Marcos found themselves down, they never quit.

A big reason for the early-season struggles was simply health. Senior Lindee Poper, junior Sydnei Rahn and freshman Camrynn Jones were in and out of the lineup because of injuries and illness.

With three starters missing time in the first two months of the season, and all three sidelined at once around the time of the Polo tournament right before Christmas, wins were tough to come by.

But once those missing starters returned Dec. 28, the Marcos started winning. And they kept winning. Again and again.

In the new year, they went 11-3.

“Most of it was health. We had injury problems earlier in the year,

and then, I think right around the time of our Polo tournament, we were down three starters with injuries and illness as well,” Grobe said. “So we just finally got healthy. That was the main thing.

“I knew we had the talent to win [a regional championship]. Looking back, I’m kind of glad we had the struggles early. It made it a little sweeter at the end once we finally got healthy. But like I said, the biggest part was just getting the girls to believe in themselves.”

A 52-43 win over Forreston on Jan. 6 sparked a five-game winning streak. From there, the Marcos won four out of their next six regular-season games, then two more to capture the regional title.

After a 51-45 win over Forreston in the regional semifinal, a 49-43 regional championship win over Amboy, and a Class 1A Polo Sectional semifinal loss to state-ranked Orangeville, the Marcos finished their season 18-12.

After his history-making first season as a varsity head coach, Grobe will have some lasting memories. The postseason run in particular provided some memorable moments.

“The regional semifinal game, I

think we were down eight in the second half to Forreston, and Annalise [Stamm], one of our seniors, she hit a 3 – didn’t even think about it – just drained it and that right there turned the momentum around, and we ended up winning that game,” Grobe said. “Then, of course, how happy everybody was after we won the regional. Probably the last month to month-anda-half of the season, I started noticing more people showing up to games, and there was more people showing up that weren’t directly connected – they didn’t have grandkids or didn’t have kids playing, or just people in town that were excited to see us play, and it was fun to have that crowd there for us.”

Making the regional win even more special for Grobe was sharing it with his daughters Carlee and Courtney, a freshman and junior on the team – as well as his wife and son, who also attended the games. Also, his father is back on the bench as an assistant as well.

“I am extremely lucky and proud to have the opportunity to coach my daughters. It isn’t always easy for me or for them because my expectations

for them are high. I tried to make sure that at practices and games I am just ‘Coach,’ and at home I’m just ‘Dad,’” Grobe said. “Winning the regional was great for our entire family. My two daughters were on the team, my son filmed the games for me, and my wife was always cheering and taking tons of pictures of all of the players. Definitely memories we will cherish.”

At the end of this season, four Polo seniors finished their high school basketball careers: Poper, Stamm, Bekah Zeigler and Jasmyn Ludewig. As the JV coach last year, a former volunteer assistant, and a youth coach in the area in the years before that, Grobe has seen these girls grow up and improve, both as basketball players and as people.

“They were a fun group. Growing up, since I’ve lived in Polo all my life, I’ve watched all those girls grow up,” Grobe said. “My daughters are a junior and a freshman. I told them at the beginning of the season, they’re all like daughters to me. I’ve seen them grow as people, I’ve seen them grow as basketball players. It’s been fun to watch them grow through the years.”

Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com

Sauk Valley Media Girls Basketball Coach of the Year Jason Grobe led Polo to its first regional title in 15 years, as the Marcos won 11 of their final 14 games.

A look at IHSA school enrollments proves interesting

After a longer than usual enrollment adjustment period because of the pandemic, the IHSA recently rolled out new figures for the 2023-2025 school years. These are enrollments that will be used to classify where each school fits into a particular sport.

The only exception is football, which divides 256 qualifiers into eight classes. Otherwise, every school knows in advance which class it will be in.

For area schools, it’s pretty much business as usual. However, the success factor is back in effect and some private schools that fed into smaller classes are now being bumped up, such as Elmhurst Immaculate Conception in football.

That impacts Byron, which gets a break from that enrollment-advantaged grid program. Winter and spring success factors for the privates will be announced later and certainly will help out public schools from a competitive balance.

Last week, mention was made about tiny schools Ohio and Scales Mound in basketball and my curiosity got me to look up current enrollments and compare them to the past.

Sadly, Ohio is down to 30 kids in the entire high school. That is half of what they had in 1986 when they took second in the state in basketball and a third of the enrollment in the 1960s.

As the town slowly died, an effort was made 20 to 30 years ago to offer free land to anyone willing to build a house and hopefully bring a family in. But towns all over the northwest part of the state are

dwindling.

Here is a list of NUIC schools with enrollment from an old 1966 IHSA handbook I found and those of 2023. It should be noted that enrollment actually peaked in the mid 1970s, with the surge of baby boomers in high school.

today’s district, i.e. Thomson, Mt. Carroll and Savanna now making up West Carroll or Ashton and Franklin Center as AFC.

Other than a pocket between high-population centers of Freeport and Rockford, where Dakota, Durand and Pec are located, the rest of the area experienced drastic drops in enrollment.

Many factors attribute to this, such as a decline in jobs, inadequate transportation systems (think of how many decades Highway 20 expansion has been stalled), decline of family farms and shuttering of big industry, such as the Army Depot in Savanna.

Another huge difference are fewer children being born. Families of four, five or six kids, which were commonly found in the 1960s and 70s, are a rarity today.

To clarify, the 1966 enrollments include the total of other school districts that eventually fed into

• Andy Colbert, an avid runner, has been a sports writer for Shaw Media and has covered high school sports in Ogle County for more than 30 years.

Neuschwanger waves jury trial; bench trial set for May

A Polo man charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the death of an Oregon man who was shot in 2020 has waived his right to a jury trial.

Cody W. Neuschwanger, 26, appeared before Ogle County Judge John “Ben” Roe on March 15 and withdrew his jury trial request. His jury trial had been scheduled for May 16, 17 and 18.

His bench trial is now scheduled for May 10 and May 11 in front of Roe. A final pre trial hearing is set for April 27

Neuschwanger faces six to 60 years to up to

life in prison if convicted in the death of 37-year-old Devin Bailey, who was found wounded about 9:15 p.m. Oct. 29, 2020, in a home in the 1100 block of First Avenue in Rochelle.

Bailey was rushed to Rochelle Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound to his torso.

Neuschwanger also is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, which carries a sentence of six to 30 years.

Two Polo men, then 17, also were charged with mob action in the shooting, which at the

time Rochelle Chief of Police Eric Higby said was the result of a domestic argument that got out of hand. They were released to their parents.

Neuschwanger has been free since Jan. 15, 2021, after posting $10,000 of his $100,000 bail, which was reduced from $500,000 on Nov. 4, 2020, over the objection of the prosecution.

Neuschwanger is represented by Chicago attorney Michael Johnson.

Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock is prosecuting the case.

Cody Neuschwanger

2022 Ogle County final multiplier announced

Ogle County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000, according to David Harris, director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

March 10-16

Warranty Deeds

The late Helen I. Schryver by heir to Spencer Decrane, 502 E. Colden St., Oregon, $80,000.

Blue Crew LLC to Peter and Antonio Alfano, 804 Franklin St., Oregon, $320,000.

Derrick E. and Paula S. Porter to David and Aline Click, 404 Barbara St., Mt. Morris, $182,000.

Matthew T. and Joleen L. Sagendorf to Michael Luke and Kirsten Eva Goessman, 3075 E. Water Road, Byron, $308,000.

Shirley Batten to Zachary J. Nardi and Haley R. Repass, 500 Jackson St., Oregon, $265,000.

Jef W. and Cynthia M. Good to Jake and Tara Petticrew, one parcel in Maryland Township, $15,600.

Thomas J. and Melodie L. Miller to Jacob P. and Emma D. Warner, 323 Winter Rose Circle, Davis Junction, $195,900.

Under a law passed in 1975, property in Illinois should be assessed at one-third of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland assessed at one-third of its agriculture economic value. Farmland is not subject to the state equalization factor.

Assessments in Ogle County are at 33.29 percent of market value, based on sales of properties in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The equalization factor currently being assigned is for 2022 taxes, payable in 2023. Last year’s equalization factor for the county was 1.0000.

The final assessment equalization

Byron Park District to Gregory K. and Shelly L. Marchini, one parcel on Brentwood Drive, Byron, $32,000.

Shane M. and Kayla M. Pope to Carson Riley Sweeney and Natalie J. Schmit, 1220 N. Moose Road, Mt. Morris, $165,251.

Michael J. Bragg to Richard D. and Mary L. Krug, 306 W. Center St., Mt. Morris, $134,500.

Hub Shuttle Inc. to Taylor Opsahl, 8576 N. Yosemite Drive, Byron, $203,000.

Michelle A. Marshall and Curtis A. Rouw, to Krzysztof and Emma Kiernia, 7080 E. Hales Corner Road, Byron, $395,000.

Gregory G. Rose to Mark Overmeyer, one parcel on River Road, Oregon, $116,250.

Quit Claim Deeds

Youssi Cutom Homes LLC to Youssi Rentals LLC III, 7405 E. Longworth Close, Byron, $0. The late Marvin L. Vietmeier by heirs to Diana L. Vietmeier, 604 S. First Ave., Forreston, $0.

factor was issued after a public hearing on the tentative factor. The tentative factor issued in November 2022 was 1.0000.

The equalization factor is determined annually for each county by comparing the price of individual properties sold over the past three years to the assessed value placed on those properties by the county supervisor of assessments/county assessor.

If this three-year average level of assessment is one-third of the market value, the equalization factor will be one . If the average level of assessment is greater than one-third of market value, the equalization factor will be less than one. And if the average level of assessment is less than one-third of

market value, the equalization factor will be greater than one.

A change in the equalization factor does not mean total property tax bills will increase or decrease. Tax bills are determined by local taxing bodies when they request money each year to provide services to local citizens. If the amount requested by local taxing districts is not greater than the amount received in the previous year, then total property taxes will not increase even if assessments increase.

The assessed value of an individual property determines what portion of the tax burden a specific taxpayer will assume. That individual’s portion of tax responsibility is not changed by the multiplier.

N. Kilbuck Road, Davis Junction, $130,000.

Executors Deeds

Estate of the late Herbert Eugene Whaley by executor to Marvin Schabacker, one parcel in Pine Rock Township, $0.

Estate of the late Herbert Eugene Whaley by executor to Betty Jean Schabacker, one parcel in Pine Rock Township, $0.

Lisa Trimble, also Burgett, to Carleton T. Trimble, 7777 N. Crestview Road, Byron, $0. Marion E. and Wieslawa M. Klesk to Michael Szmigiel, 207 Mississippi Drive, Dixon, $0.

Trustees Deeds

Richard E. Pontnack Trust and Residuary Trust, Constance M. Pontnack, trustee, to Matthew D. and Lynae R. Vanoosten, 901 S. Congress Ave., Polo, $178,500.

Gar-Bear Trust 212, Deborah K. Thompson, trustee, to Ira Aaron and Ciarra M. Hill, 6474

Estate of the late Herbert Eugene Whaley by executor to Dennis E. and Donald Whaley, 6682 E. Flagg Road, Chana, $0.

Estate of the late Deloris S. Pritchard by executor to Shana L. Coffman, 12626 W. Town Line Road, Forreston, $0.

Deed in Trust

The late Darrell Hagemann by heirs to BB Trust 1296, Anthony S. Benesh, trustee, 4224 N. River Road, Oregon, $381,000.

Source: Ogle County Recorder’s Office

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following police activity.

March 13

Galina Pettis, 34, of Freeport, was arrested for driving while license revoked and an active Stephenson County warrant after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 108 at around 5:51 p.m. She was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Trina S. Goodwin, 44, of Dakota, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop on Illinois Route 72 at West Pond Road at around 6:13 p.m. She also was cited for failure to obey a stop sign. Goodwin was taken into custody without incident and released on a $2,500 I-Bond.

March 14

Wesley Short, 28, of Forreston, was arrested for driving while license suspended, possession of cannabis/30-100 grams and improper container of cannabis/driver after a traffic stop in the 14000 block of west Illinois Route 72 at around 12:28 p.m. He also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and illegal window tint. Short was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Terry Rosenbaum was cited for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop at Illinois Route 251 and Dutch Road at around 1:20 p.m. He was released on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Troy L. Neal, 34, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license revoked after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 105 at around 7:41 p.m. He also was given a written warning for an inoperable registration light. Neal was taken into custody without incident, transported to the Ogle County and held in lieu of bond.

March 15

Jose Valdivia-Sotelo, 21, of Spencer, Iowa, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop in the 9000 block of east Illinois Route 64 at around 12:44 a.m. Valdivia-Sotelo also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and an equipment violation. Valdivia-Sotelo was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Fidel Navarro-Labato, of Rochelle, was arrested for driving without a license after a traffic stop at Illinois Route 251 and 64 at 5:53 a.m. Navarro-Labato also was cited for speeding and improper lane usage. Navarro-Labato was released on a $2,500 I-Bond.

At around 6:32 a.m., deputies and Oregon Fire Protection District EMS responded to the 6000 block of east Illinois Route 64 for a report of a single-vehicle crash. An investigation showed that a vehicle driven by Heather L. Schiller, 29, of DeKalb, was traveling

eastbound when it struck a deer in the roadway. Schiller was transported to Rochelle Community Hospital for minor injuries. No citations were issued.

Matthew Hart, of Chana, was arrested for driving without a valid license after a traffic stop at Junction Way and Illinois Route 72 at 1:45 p.m. Hart also was cited for disregarding stop a sign and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Hart was released on a $2,500 I-Bond and given a future court date.

Steven D. Baldwin, 60, of Dixon, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop in the 4000 block of South Lowell Park Road at around 7:12 p.m. He also was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol and speeding. Baldwin was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Ashley A. Martinez, 28, of Oregon, was arrested on an Ogle County warrant for driving while under the influence of alcohol and possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop in the 1000 block of north Illinois Route 251 at 9:32 p.m. Martinez also was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Martinez was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

March 16

Brice Reynoldson, 44, of Regina, Saskatchewan, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol after deputies were dispatched to the Shell Gas Station in Grand Detour (8120 Illinois Route 2) at 10:26 p.m. for a suspicious vehicle. Reynoldson also was cited for open alcohol container/driver. Reynoldson was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

March 17

Anthony Walsh, 28, of Rochelle, was arrested for driving while license suspended and unlawful possession of cannabis after a traffic stop at the intersection of Illinois Route 64 and Rocky Hollow Road at around 2:38 p.m. Walsh was released on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Edward Brown Sr., 53, of Rockford, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 106 at around 8:46 p.m. Brown also was cited for illegal window tint. Brown was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Manda Katuta, 35, of Rockford, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop at Illinois Route 251 and Dutch Road at around 10:47 p.m. Katuta was released on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

March 18

Anthony Christmas, 27, of Rockford, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 17000 block of east Illinois Route 64 at around 12:05 a.m.

Christmas also was cited for disobeying a stop sign and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Christmas was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Beth Phanenbecker, 46, of Malta, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop near the intersection of Illinois Route 38 and South Caron Road in Rochelle at around 3:52 a.m. Phanenbecker also was cited for suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Phanenbecker was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

William Muraski, 73, of Byron, was cited for no valid license and expired registration after a traffic stop at East Merchant and South Union streets in Byron at 6:04 a.m. Muraski was released on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Katlyn Quandee, 28, of Dubuque, Iowa, was arrested for an active failure-to-appear warrant from Jo Daviess County and no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop at Illinois Route 64 and Willow Road at around 2:54 p.m. She also was cited for speeding. Quandee was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

March 19

Jose Romero-Ruiz, 32, of Milwaukee,

Wisconsin, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop on Interstate 39 mile marker 111 at around 1:08 a.m. He was released from the scene on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

Tyler House, 27, of Chillicothe, was cited for driving while license suspended, no insurance and suspended registration after a traffic stop at Illinois Route 38 and Dement Road at around 2:12 p.m. House was released from the scene on an I-Bond.

At around 6:58 p.m., deputies responded to the 700 block of Central Street in Woosung for a reported domestic disturbance. An investigation revealed the alleged offender, Brian W. Hackbarth, 57, of Woosung, had left the scene prior to police arriving. Hackbarth was located near the intersection of South Galena Avenue and Bloody Gulch Road in Dixon, where he was arrested for domestic battery. Hackbarth was transported to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond pending a court appearance. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Dixon Police Department assisted.

Please note: Any arrests listed are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

In the Matter of the Estate of:

MARVIN A. KUNDE, Deceased No. 2023-PR-10

CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of MARVIN A. KUNDE of Oregon, Illinois

SENIOR ACCOUNTAN T

Letters of Office were issued on February 28, 2023 to SHARI J STUMP, as Independent Co-Executor whose attorneys are WILLIAMS McCARTHY LLP, 120 W. State St., P.O. Box 219, Rockford, IL 61105.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under Section 28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4) any interested person terminate s independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court, Ogle County Courthouse, 106 S 5th Street, # 300, Oregon, IL 61061 or with the representative, or both, on or before September 11, 2023, or within 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery of notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Probate Act, whichever date is later Any claim not

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

In the Matter of the Estate of:

MARVIN A. KUNDE, Deceased No. 2023-PR-10

CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of MARVIN A. KUNDE of Oregon, Illinois

Letters of Office were issued on February 28, 2023 to SHARI J STUMP, as Independent Co-Executor whose attorneys are WILLIAMS McCARTHY LLP, 120 W. State St., P.O Box 219, Rockford, IL 61105.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under Section 28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4) any interested person terminate s independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court, Ogle County Courthouse, 106 S 5th Street, # 300, Oregon, IL 61061 or with the representative, or both, on or before September 11, 2023, or within 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery of notice to creditors, if mailing or delivery is required by Section 18-3 of the Probate Act, whichever date is later Any claim not filed by the requisite date stated above is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

Shari J. Stump Independent Co-Executor

March 10, 17, 24, 2023

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE

Estate of BARBARA

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNT YIN PROBATE

In the Matter of the Estate of BARBARA WUBBENA, Deceased No. 2023 PR 12 CLAIM NOTICE

Notice is given of the death of Barbara Wubbena of Shannon, Illinois. Letters of Office were issued on March 13, 2023 to Lloyd Wubbena, 8545 N Brookville Rd., Shannon, IL 61078, Independent Executor, whose attorney is Heather McPherson, McPherson Law Offices, 1720 S. Hance Drive, Freeport, IL 61032.

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions To efile, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider Visit https://efile.illinois courts.gov/serviceproviders.htm to learn more and to select a service provider If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www.illinois courts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp.asp

Claims against the Estate may be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Courthouse, 105 S 5th St., Oregon, IL 61061, or with the representative, or both, on or before September 25, 2023, and any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

Lloyd Wubbena, Legal Representative

March 24, 31, April 7, 2023

ble e-filing, visit http://www.illinois courts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp.asp. Claims against the Estate may be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Court at Ogle County Courthouse, 105 S 5th St., Oregon, IL 61061, or with the representative, or both, on or before September 25, 2023, and any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

Lloyd Wubbena,

Legal Representative

March 24, 31, April 7, 2023

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FI FTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: EMMA NETTIE BROOKS, deceased No. 2023 PR 8

NOTICE OF CLAIM

Notice is given of the death of Emma Nettie Brooks, who died on November 8, 1994. Letters of Office were issued on March 2, 2023 to Stephen W. Brooks, as Independent Executor, whose address is 821 Durant St., Lansing, MI 48915, and whose attorney and agent for service is Kelly Flessner of Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC, of 114 E. Everett St., Suite 300, Dixon, Illinois 61021.

The estate will be administered without court supervision unless under Chapter 755 ILCS 5/28-4 of the probate act, any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Circuit Clerk of the Ogle County Court. Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk, or with the representative, or both within six months from the date of the first publication, no later than September 17, 2023 and any claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representa-

BROOKS, deceased No. 2023 PR 8

NOTICE OF CLAIM

Notice is given of the death of Emma Nettie Brooks, who died on November 8, 1994. Letters of Office were issued on March 2, 2023 to Stephen W. Brooks, as Independent Executor, whose address is 821 Durant St., Lansing, MI 48915, and whose attorney and agent for service is Kelly Flessner of Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC, of 114 E. Everett St., Suite 300, Dixon, Illinois 61021.

The estate will be administered without court supervision unless under Chapter 755 ILCS 5/28-4 of the probate act, any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Circuit Clerk of the Ogle County Court Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk, or with the representative, or both within six months from the date of the first publication, no later than September 17, 2023 and any claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within ten days after it has been filed.

Kelly Flessner Attorney for Executor

Prepared by:

Kelly L. Flessner (ARDC 631282)

Ehrmann Gehlbach Badger & Considine, LLC

114 E. Everett St., Suite 300 Dixon, IL 61021 815-288-4949

F: 815-288-3068

flessner@egbclaw .com

March 17, 24, 31, 2023

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk, or with the representative, or both within six months from the date of the first publication, no later than September 17, 2023 and any claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within ten days after it has been filed.

Kelly Flessner Attorney for Executor

Prepared by:

Kelly L. Flessner (ARDC 631282)

Ehrmann Gehlbach

Badger & Considine, LLC

114 E. Everett St., Suite 300 Dixon, IL 61021 815-288-4949

F: 815-288-3068

flessner@egbclaw .com

March 17, 24, 31, 2023

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

To the legal voters, residents of the Township of Maryland, in thecounty of Ogle and State of Illinois, that the ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ofsaid Township will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Being the second Tuesday of said monthat the hour of 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Township Building Adeline, Illinois for the transaction of the miscellaneous business of said township Meeting agenda to include: Election of Moderator, Approval of 2022 Minutes of Annual Meeting, the Supervisor's Financial Statement, the Supervisor's Report, the Road Commissioner's Report.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

To the legal voters, residents of the Township of Maryland, in thecounty of Ogle and State of Illinois, that the ANNUAL TOWN MEETING ofsaid Township will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Being the second Tuesday of said monthat the hour of 7:30 p.m. at Maryland Township Building Adeline, Illinois for the transaction of the miscellaneous business of said township. Meeting agenda to include: Election of Moderator, Approval of 2022 Minutes of Annual Meeting, the Supervisor's Financial Statement, the Supervisor's Report, the Road Commissioner's Report.

Set Date and Time of Next Annual Town Meeting2nd Tuesday of April no earlier than 6:00 p.m April 9, 2024; Informational Items; Adjournment.

Vicky A. Coffman Maryland Township Clerk 3/23/2023

March 24, 2023

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE IS BY GIVEN legal vote dents of t of Mt. Township County of State of that the Township ing of said ship will tak on Tuesda April 11, being the Tuesday month at of 7:00 p.m Township 105 W. Lin Mt. Morris for the transa of the neous busine the said T and after a ator having elected, will ceed to h consider of Officers cide on suc sures as pursuance come bef meeting; an cially to and dec following agend Elect a Mod Approve M of the 2022 Meeting Approve th pervisor's Financial S ment Approve Ro Commissioner Report Appoint an Firm Set Date and of Regular Meetings Dated Mar 2023. Pau Township March 24,

Set Date and Time of Next Annual Town Meeting2nd Tuesday of April no earlier than 6:00 p.m April 9, 2024; Informational Items; Adjournment.

that all items will be there on sale day in the condition described. However, if not, we assume no responsibility. Partial listing, as usual, lots more listed by sale day!!! Stop in the office to get your permit to ride your ATV, etc during the sale.

Vicky A. Coffman

Maryland Township Clerk 3/23/2023

March 24, 2023

ANNU TO WN M NOTICE IS BY GIVEN legal vote dents of t of Oregon-Nashua in the Count Ogle and Illinois, t Annual Meeting Town w place on Tuesda April 11, being the Tuesday month at of 7:00 o'clock P.M. 107 N. Etnyre Oregon-Nashua Township Oregon, for the transa of the neous busine the said tow after a Mo having bee ed, will procee hear and

NOTICE IS REBY GIVEN legal votidents of wnship of , in thef Ogle and of Illinois, ANNUAL MEETING

Township Building

NOTICE

NOW, THERE-

NS

ANNUAL TOWN

MEETING

NOTICE

Township place on esday, 11, 2023, the second y of said t the hour 7:30 p.m. Maryland wnship Building line, Illinois transaction miscellabusiness of township. agenda to Election of tor, Ap2022 Minf Annual the Sus Financial tement, the Sus Report, ad CommisReport. and Time t Annual Meetinguesday of earlier than .m April 9, ormational AdjournCoffman wnship Clerk 3/23/2023 h 24, 2023

OTICES

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the legal voters, residents of the Town of Mt. Morris Township in the County of Ogle and State of Illinois, that the Annual Township Meeting of said Township will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 being the third Tuesday of said month at the hour of 7:00 p.m at the Township Office, 105 W. Lin coln, Mt. Morris for the transaction of the miscellaneous business of the said Township; and after a Moderator having been elected, will proceed to hear and consider Reports of Officers and decide on such measures as may, in pursuance of law, come before the meeting; and especially to consider and decide the following agenda:

Elect a Moderator Approve Minutes of the 2022 Annual Meeting

Approve the Supervisor's Annual Financial Statement Approve Road Commissioner Report

Appoint an Audit Firm Set Date and Time of Regular Meetings

Dated March 10, 2023.

Oregon, IL for the transaction of the miscellaneous business of the said town; and after a Moderator having been elected, will proceed to hear and consider reports of officers, and decide on such measures as may, in pursuance of law, come before the meeting; and specially to consider and decide the following Call the meeting to order

Pledge to the flag

Elect a Moderator Approval of Agenda

Approval of: Annual Town Meeting Minutes of April 12, 2022

Announce the next annual town meeting: April 9, 2024

By Motion from the floor set time of next annual meeting - 7:00 pm

By Motion set monthly meetings:

2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm except if it falls on a holiday then the Tuesday prior to the original date and the April Regular Meeting will be held on the Second Tuesday of April in conjunction with the Annual Town Meeting.

Read the Supervisor's Annual Reports and move to approve Move to provide for IMRF for the Township Clerk at the end of this term.

Notice is hereby given that a Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the Oregon-Nashua Road District, Ogle County, Illinois, for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2023 and ending March 31, 2024, will be on file and conveniently available to public inspection at the Oregon-NashuaTownship Building, 107 Etnyre Avenue from and after 7:00

P.M. on April 11, 2023.

Notice is further given that a public hearing on said Budget and Appropriation Ordinance will be at at

7:00 P.M on May 9, 2023, at the Oregon-Nashua Township Building located at 107 Etnyre Avenue, and final action on this ordinance will be taken at the public hearing.

Dated this 8th day of March, 2023

Sharon Bowers Supervisor

Cecilia Zimmerman Clerk

March 24, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLI C HEARING TOWNSH IP BUDGET

Dated this 8th day of March, 2023

Sharon Bowers Supervisor

Cecilia Zimmerman Clerk

March 24, 23

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

OGLE COUNT YOREGON, ILLINOIS

Byron Bank PLAINTIFF Vs. Stephen Protz; Robert Protz, Jr.; Marguerite Welch; Brian Protz; Colleen Benson; Unknown Heirs and Legatees of Ann M. Protz; Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants; Kipp Meyers, as Special Representative for Ann M Protz (deceased)

DEFENDANTS No. 2022FC78

NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU:

Marguerite Welch

Unknown Heirs and Legatees of Ann M. Protz Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants

FORE, UNLESS YOU file your answer or otherwise file your appearance in this case in the Office of the Clerk of this Court, Kimberly A. Stahl Clerk of the Circuit Court 106 S 5th Street, #300 Oregon, IL 61061-1634 on or before April 17, 2023, A DEFAULT MAY BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU AT ANY TIME AFTER THAT DAY AND A JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRAYER OF SAID COMPLAINT.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys for Plaintiff

15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100 Burr Ridge, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 DuPage # 15170 Winnebago # 531 Our File No. 14-22-09535

NOTE: This law firm is a debt collector. I3215329

March

interested person terminate s independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk.

Jennifer Herchenbach, 518 East 3rd Street, Dixon, Illinois 61021, as Independent Administrator, whose attorney of record is Terrence

N Polo on IL 26, turn entrance on west side of with Augers at 8:45 at 877 -505-7770 or auction. les, plus running RIGHT TO REFUSE! March 26 Open all items will be sale day!!! Stop in JD 4440, JD 4450, skidloader, TMY LT Spreader, feed wagons * Plus much more.

Auction Service & John Hopkins * 815-994-1836 settled for day of [Insurance on all items ms. ST 587 [farm

SM-ST2063828

Paula

Diehl Township Clerk March 24, 2023

ANNUAL TO WN MEETING

NOTICE IS HERE-

BY GIVEN To the legal voters, residents of the Town of Oregon-Nashua in the County of Ogle and State of Illinois, that the Annual Town Meeting of said Town will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 being the second Tuesday of said month at the hour of 7:00 o'clock P.M. at 107 N. Etnyre Ave. Oregon-Nashua Township Building Oregon, IL for the transaction of the miscellaneous business of the said town; and after a Moderator having been elected, will proceed to hear and consider

Allow for voters at the Annual Town Meeting to transfer funds from one or more funds to other or different funds, or to the general road and bridge fund or any fund raised by taxation or bonds for road and bridges

Move to provide for the audit all the town funds to be done by the trustees and township residents

Any other recommendations, resolutions and discussion by electors (Audit, real estate etc.).

Dated: March 8, 2023

March 24, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLI C HEARING

RO AD DISTRICT BUDGET

Notice is hereby given that a Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the Oregon-Nashua Road District, Ogle County, Illinois, for the fiscal year beginning April 1

Notice is hereby given that a Tentative Town Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the Oregon-Nashua Township, Ogle County, Illinois, for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2023 and ending March 31, 2024, will be on file and conveniently available to public inspection at the Oregon-NashuaTownship Building, 107 Etnyre Avenue from and after 7:00 P.M. on April 11, 2023.

Notice is further given that a public hearing on said Budget and Appropriation Ordinance will be at 6:30 P.M on May 8, 2023, at Oregon-Nashua Township Building located at 107 Etnyre Avenue, and final action on this ordinance will be taken at a meeting to be held at Oregon/Nashua Township Building 107 Etnyre Avenue at 6:30 P.M., May 8, 2023.

Dated this 8th day of March, 2023

Sharon Bowers Supervisor

Cecilia Zimmerman Clerk

March 24, 23

That this case has been commenced in this Court against you and other defendants, praying for the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage conveying the premises described as follows, to-wit: COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 102 Harvest Glenn Dr Davis Junction, IL 61020 and which said Mortgage was made by: Robert A Protz Ann M Protz the Mortgagor(s), to Byron Bank, as Mortgagee, and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Ogle County, Illinois, as Document No 201903259; and for other relief; that summons was duly issued out of said Court against you as provided by law and that the said suit is now pending.

NOW, THEREFORE, UNLESS YOU file your answer or otherwise file your appearance in this case in the Office of the Clerk of this Court, Kimberly A. Stahl Clerk of the Circuit Court 106 S 5th Street, #300 Oregon, IL

17, 24, 31, 2023 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNT Y106 SOUTH 5TH STREET, OREGON, ILLINOIS ESTATE OF Patricia Agnes Cutrano, DECEASED.

23 PR 5

Notice is given to creditors of the death of the above named decedent Letters of office were issued to Phillip Cutrano, 25081 W N. Avenue, Antioch, Illinois 60002, as Independent Administrator, whose attorney of record is SJ Chapman, Bielski Chapman, Ltd, 123 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2300, Chicago. Illinois 60606.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act Ill. Compiled Stat 1992, Ch. 755, par 5/28-4) any interested person terminate s independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk. Claims against the estate may be filed with the clerk or with the represen-

Claims against the estate may be filed with the clerk or with the representative, or both, on or before September 10, 2023, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the representative is required by section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act, the date stated in that notice . Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered by the claimant to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed. E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider Visit http://efile.illinois courts.gov/serviceproviders.htm to learn more and to select a service provider If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www.illinois courts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp.asp

SJ Chapman Bielski Chapman, Ltd 123 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2300 Chicago. Illinois 60606 (312) 583-9430 I3214960

March 10, 17, 24, 2023 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 15TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OGLE COUNT Y106 SOUTH 5TH STREET, OREGON, ILLINOIS ESTATE OF Paulinea Herchenbach, DECEASED.

23 PR 9

Notice is given to creditors of the death of the above named decedent. Letters of office were issued to Jennifer Herchenbach, 518 East 3rd Street, Dixon, Illinois 61021, as Independent Administrator, whose attorney of record is Terrence E. Davey, Malman Law, 205 West Randolph Street, Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

E. Davey, Malman Law, 205 West Randolph Street, Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act Ill. Compiled Stat 1992, Ch. 755, par 5/28-4) any interested person terminate s independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk. Claims against the estate may be filed with the clerk or with the representative, or both, on or before September 17, 2023, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the representative is required by section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act, the date stated in that notice . Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered by the claimant to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions To efile, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider Visit http://efile.illinois courts.gov/serviceproviders.htm to learn more and to select a service provider If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www.illinois courts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp.asp

Terrence E. Davey Malman Law 205 West Randolph Street, Suite 1700 Chicago, Illinois 60606 (312)629-0099 I3215326

March 17, 24, 31, 2023

Sometimes it really is as simple as black & white.