Area athletes bring home hardware in 1A state finals

CHARLESTON – Forreston-Polo junior Letrese Buisker medaled for the second straight year in the high jump at the 1A state meet, finishing fifth at 1.55 meters. She said her experience at state in 2022 was a huge help in how she performed this year.

“Staying calm was key. Being focused, being relaxed, not getting too nervous or overanxious. It was just staying calm and knowing that I’ve done this before, this is nothing new, just muscle memory,” she said. “It’s fifth place, so that’s nice. I wish I would’ve gotten higher, but everyone wishes that.”

Cardinals teammate Sydni Badertscher capped a comeback season with an eighth-place finish in the shot put. She suffered an arm injury in the offseason and spent three months unable to participate in any physical activity.

Still, her toss of 11.40 meters was a personal best and showed just how far she’s come this spring.

“This year was a lot tougher than I ever expected. There was a lot of up and down, and I think this year was more of just getting back into it after hurting myself. It’s a lot more eye-opening to be injured and come out of that and realize what you lost from it,” Badertscher said. “It’s really a realization of how much more competition there is. I’m still happy with where I placed. I think I could’ve done better on my last throw, but you always think that.

“It’ll make a ton of difference to be able to work out this offseason. Last year, when I should’ve been pounding on those weights, I couldn’t because I had to rest for 12 weeks – and that’s a lot of time to just sit and do nothing. This summer, I’ll be able to get those workouts in and keep getting stronger.”

Oregon sophomore Sonya Plescia made it to the finals in the pole vault but did not clear opening height.

In the prelims, Oregon’s Sophia Stender was 13th in the 100 hurdles in 16.71 seconds, while teammate Hadley Lutz took 23rd in the long jump (4.68 meters).

The Hawks also had three relay teams miss the cut for finals: Rylie Robertson, Miranda Ciesiel, Ava Wight and Luz were 17th in the 4x100 (51.45 seconds); Wight, Lexi Ebert, Miranda Ciesiel and Lutz placed 16th in the 4x200 (1:49.36), and Plescia, Jennica Ciesiel, Grace Tremble and Skylar Bishop finished 15th in the 4x800 (4:14.29).

Forreston-Polo’s Autum Pritchard ran in a pair of sprints, placing 27th in the 200 (27.89 seconds) and 22nd in the 400 (1:01.39).

Teammate Ennen Ferris tied for 15th in the high jump (1.50 meters)

Oregon Police

Oregon Police Chief Joe Brooks reports the following police activity.

May 15

Barbara J. Ohata, 78, of Oregon, was issued a city citation at 1:14 a.m. for violating the city ordinance of allowing a dog to run at large. This violation occurred in the 100 block of Madison Street.

Marissa A. Sommerio, 25, of Athens, Illinois, was arrested at 10:03 p.m. for improper cannabis container as a driver. Sommerio also was issued citations for speeding, 35 mph in a 30 mph zone, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, illegal transportation of alcohol, and operation of a vehicle with an expired registration. Sommerio was transported to the Ogle County Jail. These violations occurred in the 500 block of West Washington Street.

Ogle County Sheriff Reports

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle reports the following activity.

May 15

Daniel Enriquez, 42, of Belvidere, was arrested for driving while license revoked after deputies responded to a car in the ditch at South Garnhart Road just south of Illinois Route 64 at 3:51 a.m. Enriquez was taken to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

May 16

Adam Nambo, 42, of Rockford, was arrested for no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop in the 8000 block of North River Road about 9:19 a.m. Nambo also was cited for suspended registration/ non-insured. Nambo was released from the scene and given a future court date.

Joseph Willis, 40, of Rochelle, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 3000 block of south Illinois Route 251 about 6:12 p.m. Willis also was cited for no front registration. Willis was released on a $2,500 I-Bond and given a future court date.

May 17

Brenden M. Harms, 20, of Polo, was arrested for disorderly conduct after deputies responded to a disturbance in the 10000 block of west Illinois Route 64

Sheriff’s department joins Click It or Ticket campaign

OREGON – The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up enforcement for the Memorial Day Click It or Ticket campaign that runs through May 30.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle is

May 17

Alis M. Velasquez-Pena, 26, of Freeport, was arrested at 9:48 a.m. for no driver’s license. Velasquez-Pena was taken to the Ogle County Jail. This violation occurred in the 100 block of South Fourth Street. Elizabeth C. Nielsen, 38, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was arrested at 11:09 a.m. on two outstanding warrants – a Carroll County warrant for contempt of court on a possession of a controlled substance charge and an Ogle County warrant for failure to appear on an aggravated domestic battery victim over 60 years of age. Nielsen was taken to the Ogle County Jail.

May 18

At 11:10 a.m., police responded to a two-vehicle traffic crash in the 500 block of Jefferson Street involving a 2013 Lexus driven by Jennifer M. Holder, 35, of Loves

Park, and a 2018 Ford driven by Gerald R. Virgil, 81, of Oregon. No citations were issued.

At 10:01 p.m., police responded to a two-vehicle traffic crash in the McDonald’s restaurant parking lot, 211 S. Fourth St., involving a 2007 Pontiac driven by Quentin L. Berry, 17, of Chana, and a parked 2016 Chevrolet belonging to Brian K. Lamphere, of Oregon. No citations were issued.

May 19

At 5:40 p.m., police investigated a two-vehicle traffic crash in the Blackhawk Center parking lot, 1101 Jefferson St., involving a 2015 GMC driven by Riley K. Fitzgerald, 18, of Rockford, and a parked 2010 Buick belonging to Adam D. Cunningham, 48, of Winnebago. No citations were issued.

Anthony A. Bullock, 22, of Milan,

Illinois, was issued a citation at 9:17 p.m. for operating an uninsured motor vehicle. This violation occurred near the intersection of South Fourth and Adams streets.

May 20 at 7:40 p.m. Harms was taken to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

Adrian Ortiz, 30, of Rockford, was issued a citation at 4:53 p.m. for operating a vehicle with an expired registration. This violation occurred in the 100 block of South Fourth Street.

Jamari L. Hollingsworth, 22, of Chicago, was issued a citation at 9:29 p.m. for no valid driver’s license. This violation occurred in the 200 block of West Washington Street.

Nine parking citations and nine verbal warnings were issued May 15-21.

Note: Arrests listed are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

May 18

Corey Shugart, 47, of Prophetstown, was arrested for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 8000 block of East Flagg Road at 5:58 p.m. Shugart was released on an I-Bond and given a future court date.

May 19

About 9:31 p.m., deputies responded to the 200 block of South Prairie Street in Creston regarding a reported domestic battery. After an investigation, Donna J. Russell, 58, of Ashton, was arrested for aggravated domestic battery. Russell was taken to the Ogle County Jail.

At 9:39 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of East Ritchie Road and South Woodlawn Road for the report of a car in the ditch. Upon arrival, deputies found a blue Nissan Altima wrecked in the ditch east of the intersection.

It was determined the Nissan, being driven by Janeiro Tlapa-Hernandez, 36, of Davis Junction, was traveling east on East Ritchie Road, disregarded the stop sign and the intersection and crashed in the ditch.

After a brief investigation, Tlapa-Her- nandez was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Tlapa-Hernandez was taken into custody without incident and taken to the Ogle County Jail. Tlapa-Hernandez additionally was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, disregarding an official traffic control device, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to carry/display a driver’s license.

May 20

Marisela Soto-Martinez, 36, of Waukegan, was arrested at 11:06 p.m. for driving while license suspended after a traffic stop in the 14000 block of East Illinois Route 64. Deputies next made contact with a separate vehicle traveling with Marisela. After further investigation, Jesus C. Morales-Santana, 40, of Waukegan, was arrested for driving while license suspended. Both individuals were taken to the Ogle County Jail. About 1 a.m., deputies investigated a vehicle parked in the northbound lane, facing south, in the 3200 block of North Stillman Road. After a brief investigation, Donald Goike Jr., 54, of Chana, was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Goike was taken to the Ogle County Jail and held in lieu of bond.

May 21 reminding motorists to buckle up for safety.

Eric Rawls, 46, of Lindenwood, was arrested at 6:45 p.m. for domestic battery and an outstanding warrant after deputies responded to the 1300 block of North Illinois Route 251 for a report of a physical disturbance. Rawls was taken to the Ogle County Jail.

At 12:47 p.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 5000 block of South Woodlawn Road where two vehicles pulled over. After a brief investigation, Robert Rawls, 26, of Penscacola, Florida, was arrested for no valid driver’s license. Rawls also was cited for speeding – 26-34 mph above the speed limit – and released on scene. Scott Beattie, 49 of Rochelle, also arrested for driving while license revoked. Beattie was taken to the Ogle County Jail.

At 1:28 a.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop at Hickory Lane and Illinois Route 64. After a brief investigation, deputies arrested Joseph Patterson, 22, of Mendota, for driving without a valid license. Patterson was released on a $2,500 individual bond and also issued a citation for loud exhaust.

Arrests listed are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

“Seat belts have proven to be lifesaving in the event of a crash,” VanVickle said in a news release. “Unfortunately, many still don’t buckle up.”

Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for traveling to visit family and friends, according to the release.

“Whether you are traveling down the block or across the country, make sure you buckle up every time. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45%. Seat belts save lives every day, but they’re only effective if they’re used,” according to the release. “While Illinois currently has a 93% seat belt use compliance rate, unbelted occupants still account for more than half of those killed in motor vehicle crashes. The simple click of a seat belt could save thousands of lives each year.”