Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
November 14, 2013 Volume 163, Number 48 - $1.00
Seasons Ended
Winter is Here
Feeding Birds
OHS volleyball and football teams lost their postseason matchups. B1
The IEMA and NWS encourages everyone to be ready for winter . B1
A winter bird feeding program will be held Nov. 20 at the extension office. A7
Death is ruled a homicide Williams died after fight at drinking party By Vinde Wells Editor A Winnebago County Coroner’s Jury ruled Nov. 8 that the death of an Oregon teen last summer was a homicide. Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Oregon VFW Post 8739 Commander T. Richard Day and Chaplin John Tuttle salute the flag during the National Anthem. Photo by Chris Johnson Rock said Tuesday that he expects to file criminal charges in the death of Jonathan Williams, 18, within the next three weeks Williams died Aug. 11 at OSF St. By Chris Johnson veterans it is wonderful to Anthony Medical Center, Rockford, Reporter see the love of our country. after being injured in a fight in the Recent events made us wee hours of Aug. 10 at an underage Celebrating all veterans realize the freedoms we drinking party at 804 Monroe St., was stressed during the enjoy.� Oregon. He would have been a senior at annual Veteran’s Day Day encouraged Oregon High School this year. Program at the Oregon everyone to go out and tell Rock declined to say who will be VFW. a veteran “thank you.� charged or what the charges will be. “We are honoring all “Tomorrow we must “Being ruled a homicide doesn’t veterans who served to continue to honor them necessarily mean there’s going to defend democracy,� said and say ‘thank you,’� he be murder charges,� he said. “The commander T. Richard said. “We must honor Winnebago County Coroner’s report is Day. “We celebrate this them everyday.� something we’ll take into account when day and honor them. Veterans have made life deciding what charges are appropriate.� Without veterans there better for everyone in the He said he wants to go over the report would not be a land of the country, Day said. from the inquest carefully before filing free.� “Without our veterans the charges. Day said only 9 percent we would not be where we The homicide ruling did not come as of the country has served are today,� he said. a surprise, Rock said. in the military with 5 The younger generation The American Legion and VFW Post 8739 Firing Squad performed a rifle salute “I’m not sure how they reached their million active and 23.5 will need to continue during the Veteran’s Day program at the VFW. Members of the squad are Stan conclusion, but it’s what I anticipated,� million veterans. moving toward tomorrow Eden, Gene Frericks, Garry Myers, and Ken Williams. Photo by Chris Johnson he said. “Veterans are the so everyone enjoys received a $1,065 donation The money was raised refurbish the memorial Winnebago County Coroner Sue minority, but we fought freedoms in the future, he from American Legion during Autumn on Parade on the north lawn of the Fiduccia said during an interview Nov. to keep things free,� he said. and will be used to courthouse square. member Gene Frericks. During the service Day Turn to A2 said. “As we celebrate our
Veterans need to be celebrated daily
Newman shares his love of country at junior high By Chris Johnson Reporter
Open House Ogle County engineer Curtis Cook, right, talks to a group about the highway department during an open house Nov. 7. Photo by Chris Johnson
Woman killed in wreck north of Polo on Nov. 9 An New Mexico woman in town for a relative’s wedding died in a single vehicle crash near Polo Nov. 9. Melanie R. Wagner, 21, Albuquerque, N.M., was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Union Road near the intersection with Canada Road approximately two miles north of Polo.
A press release issued Tuesday afternoon by Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn said Wagner was a front seat passenger in a vehicle driven by her cousin Jason W. Wagner, 23, Polo. She was ejected from the vehicle. According to the press release, the vehicle was southbound in the 600 block
In This Week’s Edition...
of Union Road when the vehicle went out of control, left the roadway, and collided with an electric pole shortly after 10 p.m. Harn said alcohol may have been a factor in the crash. Jason was transported by Dixon City ambulance
Business Briefs, B5 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B3
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Students at David Rahn Junior High were honored to have Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Newman at their school last week. Newman, a member of the Illinois National Guard since he enlisted in 1985, was the guest speaker during a Veteran’s Day program Nov. 6. “I originally joined to go to college, and I had my parents sign my enlistment forms when I was only 17,� he said. “A year later I went to basic training.� This idea of joining quickly changed when Newman began working with his fellow soldiers. “You form bonds when you are in the military and these bonds are greater than any others,� he said. “I wanted to be by their side.� Newman returned from Afghanistan in May after serving oversees for a year. “We are currently moving out of the country,� Newman said. “But there are still casualties occurring in Afghanistan. He talked about a soldier that gave his life to save
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A11 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5
LTC Jerry Newman salutes the flag during a Veteran’s Day program at DLR Junior High Nov. 6. Photo by Chris Johnson
Afghanistan police during a mission. “The soldier is a fallen warrior,� said Newman. “When he was flown to another hospital his buddies insisted on going with so he would not fly alone.� Before this deployment Newman had the opportunity to retire from the military. “I could have retired but my daughter said ‘go, because you can make things better,’� said Newman. This bond between the soldiers, Newman said, is something that stays with a
Social News, A4 Sports, A11, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3, Zoning, B5
soldier his entire life. He continues to be in contact with soldiers from basic training. “We make big sacrifices by joining the military, but the biggest sacrifices and hardship are for the families left at home,� he said. “The families at home cover the slack. Do not forget about the families.� Newman is a father of four. He has three children, Nick, Abby, and Andrew are students at Oregon High
Deaths, B3 Margaret I. Van Buskirk, Melanie R. Wagner
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