Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
March 8, 2018 Volume 168, Number 13 - $1.00
Signing for College
Spring Ahead
Primary Profiles
Four Oregon High School athletes will continue to play at the collegiate level. B1
Set your clocks one hour ahead at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 11.
Learn about the candidates for county offices in the March 20 Primary Election. B2
Ownership of Blackhawk Center set to change Park district to transfer facility to school district By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Blackhawk Center in Oregon will change hands later this year under the terms of an agreement between the Oregon School District and Oregon Park District. The boards of both districts are expected to approve an intergovernmental agreement this month which will transfer ownership of the facility from the park district to the school district as of Sept. 1. The park board meets on Tuesday, March 13 and the school board meets on Monday, March 19. The decision will be made
based not only on the facility’s proximity to Oregon High School, but also on the fact that most of the building’s current use is school-related. “It just seems to made sense that we should own the facility that we use 90 percent of the time,” School Superintendent Tom Mahoney said. “The school district is pleased to work hand in hand with the park district to provide our students the best possible facilities. We believe Blackhawk Center is a tremendous asset for our students and schools.” Park district Executive Director Erin Folk agreed. “The school and park district both feel they are in a good position financially for the transfer to take place,” she said. “Besides that it just makes sense.” Both said the change will not affect real estate tax bills. The park board approved the construction of the Blackhawk
Center to address overcrowding at the high school in 1996, Folk said. The building is on school grounds and is connected to the high school by a corridor called the “link”. “This building serves as a premier facility in our area for athletic events, recreation, and academic programs,” Folk said. “Fiscally, this was the right time for both organizations to consider a transfer in ownership due to the facility being mainly utilized by the school district.” Since its completion the school and park districts have shared usage of the building, with the park district maintaining and staffing it and the school district paying rent annually. Under the terms of the agreement, the park district will make some needed repairs to the building before the The Blackhawk Center is located just west of the Oregon High School and is connected Turn to A8 with a fully-enclosed walkway called the link. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Council considers new ordinance for clearing walks Snow-covered sidewalks should be clear for kids By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com
Aubri Bonte, age 3, of Byron, uses a fly swatter as she herds a pig balloon at herding game by the Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club at the Penny Carnival on Saturday. Cloverbud Club member David Wehler, right, handed out little foam pigs or hats as prizes. Photos by Earleen Hinton
Creativity shines “Down on the Farm” Penny Carnival had fun chores By Earleen Hinton ehinton@oglecounty news.com Herding pink balloon pigs with a flyswatter or tossing plastic cowpies into a wagon were just two examples of Ogle County 4-H Club members’ creativity at the “Down on the Farm” Penny Carnival. The event, housed on both floors of the Oregon Coliseum March 3, showcased booths created, constructed, and operated by 4-H Club members. “The kids came up with the ideas. The kids plan everything,” said Carmen Conderman, a leader with the By-Y Badgers Club. At the Badgers’ booth, kids pedaled a John Deere tractor
and wagon around a circle picking up plastic cowpies at the “Git ‘R Done” booth. A sign reading “Every Kiss Begins with Cowpie” was one of the clever signs at the event. For a mere 25 cents a ticket or 50 for $10, participants ages 5-18, could try their hand at similar farm-themed games. The Carefree 4-H Club made a giant Holstein cow where kids could try their hand at “Cow Surgery” fashioned after the icon Operation board skill game. At the Pine Creek Valley booth, kids tried to lasso a wooden cow while mounted on a wooden horse and at the Grand Detour Greens booth kids plucked cotton balls out of laundry basket at the “Shear the Sheep” booth. For more information about Lily Cady, age 6, of Oregon, concentrates on pulling cotton Ogle County 4-H Clubs and balls from as laundry basket as she tries her hand at the programs, call 815-732-2191. “Shear the Sheep” game run by the Grand Detour Greens.
In This Week’s Edition...
Byron Library, A8 Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B5-B8 Entertainment, A6
Oregon Library, A2 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B3
The Oregon City Council is considering an ordinance aimed at making sure sidewalks are clear for the youths as they walk to school in the morning. During the Feb. 27 council meeting, Commissioner Kurt Wilson read a Plan Commission recommendation that property owners or current residents will be required to remove snow from their sidewalks by 7:30 a.m. after a snowfall. The resident or property owner would need to remove snowfalls of one inch or greater, and clear the entire width of their sidewalks. The recommendation was presented for discussion at the meeting, to be voted on during the March 13 meeting. Wilson said the recommendation came about after reports of kids having to walk in the streets to school after heavy snowfalls the night before. “We had some complaints about children on the streets, walking down Jefferson and Madison, where sidewalks were done intermittently, or where corners were covered in four-foot drifts,” said Wilson. Commissioner Jim Barnes asked Wilson if the entire Plan Commission supported the decision and Wilson confirmed that all members did. “If my memory serves, six of those nine members do not have sidewalks in front
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B4
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
of their house,” said Barnes. “There’s only… three that have sidewalk: you, Roger [Cain], and [Rick] Ryland.” Barnes also voiced concerns regarding the difficulty some citizens may have with complying. “The other thing is, you get an 80-year-old lady, and tell her she’s got to have that sidewalk cleaned? Or you take a gentleman that’s got heart problems, he’s got to have that sidewalk clean,” said Barnes. “We’re getting too much government.” Wilson said one of the ideas discussed was offering service hours to students willing to put together a committee and offer to shovel sidewalks for citizens who need it. Police Chief Darin DeHaan said that the city’s eight police officers can’t enforce the policy on a city-wide basis, without relying on citizens, the street department, and city officials to help keep them in the loop. “My thought would be, if somebody complains that a sidewalk is not being cleaned up, because it’s constantly used… then we address that, and we resolve that,” DeHaan said. “Can I see maybe down on Water Street, somebody complaining about a sidewalk not being cleaned off? Probably not.” DeHaan said he thinks he could work with someone complaining about a busy sidewalk route, be it dog walkers, school walkers, and such. Commissioner Terry Schuster said he understood the policy coming about to help the children, but the language was too broad. Turn to A2
Deaths, B4 Richard R. Voss, Lyle D. Wright