Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
Postal Customer Oregon, IL 61061
March 29, 2018 Volume 168, Number 16 - $1.00
Run for Maggie
Outlook
Dos for Dos Amigos
The Infinity Run in memory of Maggie Meyer and her son Amos will be held April 28. B1
Read about some of the changes in our communities. Special Section
A Byron restaurant expands to offer its south of the border cuisine in Oregon. B3
County board says yes to Forreston solar farm Special use permit allows lease of 360 acres south of village By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com Forreston property owner Rod Wubbena was pleased last week when the Ogle County Board approved his request for a special use permit for a solar farm. “It’s obviously a benefit for our family, but I believe it has long term benefits for the community,” he said March 20 after the county board approved his request by an 18-3
vote. “I appreciate the frustration the board has gone through with all their process. I feel there was a lot of homework needed that didn’t get done so there was unusual circumstances that created the need for an unusual exception.” The board approved the request despite recommendations to the contrary from the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Regional Planning Commission, and the Forreston Village Board. However, the Planning & Zoning Committee recommended approval. The special use permit will allow Elkhorn Solar LLC to lease approximately 360 acres from Wubbena and his family at 6974 N.
Ill. 26 south of Forreston. Prior to the vote county board member Dan Janes, of Stillman Valley, who is chairman of the Supervisor of Assessments, Planning and Zoning Committee, said he and other board members recently received more than 200 pages of information about the solar farm that did not go through the ZBA, Regional Planning Commission, and Planning & Zoning Committee as required for the zoning process. “I believe it’s important to follow the process. It provides a free and fair opportunity for everyone,” he said. The public is allowed to address the three committees during their hearings.
Board chairman Kim Gouker, of Byron, cautioned board members to disregard any information they received outside the legal process. Board member Skip Kenney, of Rochelle, said he would vote to approve the permit. “I have a difficult time trying to understand the negative impact this will have on the Village of Forreston,” he said. The solar farm is outside the village limits, but the village board’s recommendation was required because it will be within a mile and a half of the village. Some neighbors who opposed the project voiced concerns that it may cause property values to decline.
Board member Ron Colson, of Mt. Morris, said that solar farms are a permitted use under AG-1 (agricultural use) zoning, which is how Wubbena’s property is classified. Board members Lyle Hopkins and Pat Saunders, both of Polo, said they believed the permit application met all the criteria in the zoning code. Gouker said he would find it difficult not to uphold the recommendations of the ZBA, Planning Commission, and the Forreston Village Board. Janes, Gouker, and Pat Nordman, of Oregon, cast the three no votes. Board members Dorothy Bowers, of Byron, Garrett Williams, of Rochelle, and John Finfrock, of Mt. Morris, did not attend the meeting.
County buys law office
Good food & moods at What’s Cookin’
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com New cooks, old friends, and returning champions gathered for the fifth year in the row for the Rock River Center’s celebrated fundraiser. “What’s Cookin?” is a question that takes two words to ask, and nearly 30 culinary creators to answer. Apparently it’s a popular question, though, because 468 people asked it. The fundraiser enjoyed its fifth year going strong March 25 at Barnacopia, 2570 N. West Branch Rd., Polo, despite threats during the week of a late winter storm. A snowstorm didn’t truly hit the Ogle County area, but the night was still chilly. “We were very pleased with the turnout, due to the weather,” said Ann Haas, Executive Director for the RRC. “Everyone had a great time, enjoyed the food, had lots of laughter, and many attended for the first time.” As per usual, a $20 entry fee gave patrons access to a smörgåsbord of tasty treats, both sweet and savory, from
Oregon Living & Rehabilitation won “best entrée” with their tribute to the Rockford Peaches. Front row, left to right: Chip Messiner, celebrity judge; Danielle Hermes, Kathi Wilkinson, and Jen Stark, of Oregon Living & Rehabilitation. Back row, left to right: Marilyn Csernus and Dan Ritter, celebrity judges. Photo by Zach Arbogast.
local restaurants, amateur chefs, public officials, dietary teams, and the always beloved junior divisions. Oregon’s Village Bakery served up samples of their “Foundation” panini, the Ogle County Cooking Team Circuit Clerk Kim Stahl and State’s Attorney Eric Morrow served up some kielbasa bites, and Hopper’s Poppers returned with samples of their specialty popcorn. Teams were proud to
sport ingredients from one another as well; Ogle County Clerk Laura Cook served up meatballs with an aronia berry pepper jelly, courtesy of Mt. Morris’ Berryview Orchard, who provided their classic aronia berry slushes. While teams were thrilled to simply showcase their flavorlayering skills, they were still actively competing for the bragging rights associated with winning trophies. Winners were selected
for the best in show in five categories: junior division, appetizers, side dishes, entrées, and desserts. Hazel’s Cafe (formerly Conover Coffees & Chocolates) took home best appetizer with their tomato and mozzarella skewers with a balsamic drizzle, and Mighty Vine Tomatoes once again snagged best side dish. The entrée round saw the two-time champion E.D. Etnyre boys, led by Nick
Lamb, dethroned by the women from Oregon Living and Rehabilitation, Danielle Hermes, Kathi Wilkinson and Jen Stark. Oregon Rehab won with their peachwood-smoked pulled pork with peach barbecue sauce, peach and jalapeño chutney, complete with apple and fennel slaw. The dish was a tribute to the upcoming 75th birthday of the Rockford Peaches, the fourTurn to A2
The Ogle County Board voted last week to proceed with the purchase of an attorney’s office in the same block as the new jail. Following a closed session March 20, the board voted to go forward with buying the Williams & McCarthy law office at 604 W. Washington St., Oregon, at a cost not to exceed $167,000. Board chairman Kim Gouker said the property was earmarked for purchase in the county’s 50-year plan, approved several years ago. The plan calls for buying the property adjacent to the courthouse and judicial center when it goes on the market. “This property is in the plan,” Gouker said. “The plan will allow us to expand county facilities if needed in the future. When land becomes available we will buy it.” The law office, once a residence, is on the southeast corner of West Washington and South Seventh Streets, and adjoins the property where the new jail will be located. Gouker said attorney Kim Turn to A2
Forecasted snowstorm impacts show By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Although last Saturday’s predicted snowstorm never arrived, it took a toll on an iconic Oregon event. “The weather man was really not nice to us. Our attendance was down 25 percent overall,” said Ron Bry, manager of the 68th annual Oregon Woman’s Club Antique Show at the Blackhawk Center. He said attendees coming from south and east of Oregon, where the storm did hit, apparently opted
not to make the trip — at least not on Saturday. “Saturday’s attendance was down by a lot,” Bry said. “But Sunday made up for at least some of it.” He said 1,300 people came to the two-day event, compared to the usual 1,700 to 1,800. Otherwise the event went very well. People were lined up at the door when the show opened both mornings and came to do business. “It was a buying crowd. A lot of packages were carried out. Most of the vendors were satisfied,”
In This Week’s Edition...
Bry said. Longtime vendors Bob and Marsha Hudson, of Lapel, Indiana, weren’t worried at the thinner than usual crowd Saturday morning. “When they get up and they see it’s not doing anything, they’ll be here,” Marsha said with a smile. John Shallcross, of Rockford, was looking over an array of antique rifles. He said he comes to the show every year. “You never know what you’re going to find,” he said. Robert Dillavou, of Forreston, also an annual visitor to the show said he was “hoping to find
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
Library News, A8 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4
something in arcade toys and Lincoln items.” LouAnn Millard, of Byron, and her sister Laurie Bigelow, of Davis Junction, made their way through an array of old kitchen utensils. “This reminds us of our grandmother,” Bigelow said. “I wish we had kept more of her things.” Bry said the lunch stand served by the women of the Chana United Methodist Church made a hit with show attendees. “They did a great job, as always, and we really appreciate Sisters LouAnn Millard, of Byron, left, and Laurie all the help from the Oregon Park Bigelow, of Davis Junction, look at items at the Oregon Woman’s Club’s antique show. Photo by Vinde Wells District,” he said.
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Deaths, B5 Richard J. Ely, Joseph R. Humphrey, Mary B. Reciak, Harriett Thibault
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com