Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
June 2, 2016 Volume 166, Number 25 - $1.00
Lady Cards Fall
State Medal
Get on the Map!
Stillman Valley’s Lady Cardinals fall 9-8 to Rockridge in supersectional action. B3
OHS’ 4x400 meter relay team finishes third at the state meet. B1
Get on the map for Oregon’s City-Wide Garage Sales June 10-11. A2, A10
Teen sentenced to probation in fatal crash By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Command Sergeant Major Bob Coulter places a wreath in front of the memorial on the north side of the Ogle County Courthouse lawn on Monday morning. Photo by Chris Johnson
Remembering those who served Speakers honor all veterans By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com The passion that service members have for their fallen comrades was evident Monday morning as Command Sergeant Major Bob Coulter talked about the importance of Memorial Day. American Legion Commander John Tuttle, who is also a Vietnam veteran, spoke “It makes me proud to about veterans like Ray Appler, above right, during Monday’s ceremony. celebrate the freedom that we have,” said Coulter, soldiers. The bigger number that is who had a 32 year career in the Army. “It is quite an not celebrated, Coulter said, honor. We have dedicated is the 2.3 million service Americans that raise their members that have been right hand and say the wounded in battle. “That is a staggering flag stands for liberty and justice. When you go by a number and you need to cemetery, give them a thank look around and give them you. They deserve it. They support,” he said. John Tuttle, a Vietnam did their best to keep us veteran, also spoke at the free.” Coulter fought back tears service. He took the time to as he talked about the young remember two veterans. “Recently we did a men and women who are for Raymond joining the military even service Appler,” said Tuttle. “He though there is no draft. “I know it is a scary world was a Marine in World War out there, but the United II and quite a hero in the States will prevail,” he said. battle of Okinawa.” Command Sergeant Major Bob Coulter delivers a Appler was 96 years old Coulter provided those passionate speech Monday during the annual Memorial in attendance with some when he died on May 12. Day service in Oregon. Photo by Chris Johnson “At his funeral there numbers to reflect upon. From the Revolutionary was an older gentleman veterans currently serving. going to Washington D.C.” War to March, 2016, that I talked to who knew Dorothy lived in Rockford He also wanted to Coulter said 1.2 million Ray,” said Tuttle. “That is recognize Alan Boyer, an and passed away in 2013. American service people my dad’s generation. They Army Green Beret lost in Tuttle plans to attend the have died in defense of the defended this country. I 1968. Boyer was in Laos. services. looked around at the honor country. He will also take time to “Boyer was missing These Americans are guard and realized we are in action and his mother visit the Vietnam Memorial. remembered on Memorial the children of those guys. Dorothy always thought We did the best we could. Alan should come home, Day. “I made a little card for “This is a celebration We defended this country. but he never did,” said each of the 25 men that day, but it is also a somber Then I looked at the young Tuttle. were lost in my company day,” he said. “We are here Marines who folded the Boyer is finally coming in Vietnam,” Tuttle said. “I to celebrate those that flag.” home in June to be interned will go to the wall, lay a Tuttle said they were Iraq at sacrificed the most.” Arlington National card there, and put my hand For 150 years, Americans veterans and he realized Cemetery. on their name. I am going to have been celebrating the the country is in good “March 16 they found his apologize for taking so long memories of the fallen shape because of the young ashes,” said Tuttle. “I am and say a prayer for them.”
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Library, A7 Oregon Police, A9 Public Voice, A7
The Stillman Valley teenager charged in a crash that killed two people last September pleaded guilty last week to two counts of reckless homicide. Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said Alison Seiler, now 18, was sentenced May 26 to probation with numerous conditions until her 21st birthday in October of 2018. The investigation showed that Seiler, then 17, was speeding last Sept. 4 when she failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Big Mound Road and Ill. 251 near Davis Junction. Andy Conderman, 64, Amboy, and Emily Fleming, 17, Stillman Valley, died in the ensuing crash. Seiler was charged as a juvenile in February with two counts of reckless homicide and two counts of aggravated reckless driving. Two counts were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Morrow said the conditions of the probation sentence include counseling; 200 hours of community service work,at least 40 of which must be related to education against reckless or impaired driving; not operating a motor vehicle; attending college or seeking and maintaining employment, and apologies
to the victims’ families. “I think it’s a fair resolution to the case,” Morrow said. “She has already apologized to the families. We consulted with them prior to reaching the agreement.” Fleming was the back seat passenger in Seiler’s car, which was westbound on Big Mound Road. The car struck Conderman’s southbound pick-up. Traffic on Ill. 251 is not required to stop at the intersection. The vehicles came to rest in a soybean field at the southwest corner of the intersection, where Conderman’s truck burst into flames. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Fleming was pronounced dead at the Rockford hospital where she was airlifted. A front seat passenger is Seiler’s car, Carly Koenig, 17, Stillman Valley, was airlifted to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, for serious injuries. Seiler was transported by ambulance to a Rockford hospital. All three girls were seniors at Stillman Valley High School. They were varsity cheerleaders and were headed to Stillman Valley’s football game versus Richmond Burton when the crash took place. The game was cancelled when school officials learned of the crash.
Two townships want to merge Lafayette, Taylor could become one By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Come November, Ogle County could have one less township. Officials from Lafayette and Taylor Townships, in the south central portion of the county, have requested permission to put a referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot to merge the two. The county board will consider the request at its July 19 meeting following a public hearing on the matter earlier in the evening. If approved by the county board and then passed by the voters in both townships, the county will have 23 rather than 24 townships. Lafayette Township Supervisor Clifford Jones said the reason for a merger is mainly financial. “We’re not broke but we’re not getting anywhere. We have no tax base — it’s all
Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B3
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
farmland,” he said Tuesday. “We decided to take it to the people and let them decide.” Taylor Township Supervisor JoAnn Reynolds could not be reached for comment. The two townships touch each other with Hoosier Road as the north-south boundary between them. Taylor lies directly south of Oregon-Nashua Township with the Rock River forming most of its western boundary. Lafayette lies just to the east of Taylor. Lee County borders both on the south. Both are in rural areas of the county and are sometimes referred to as “half-townships” because they are about half the size of most others. Lafayette is 18 square miles and has a population of 170 people. Taylor is 15.5 square miles and boasts a population of 963, largely due to the Lost Lake Subdivision. They already share an assessor with neighboring Pine Rock Township.
Deaths, B5 Graham A. Lints, Gloria R. Miller
Turn to A3