Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
January 14, 2016 Volume 166, Number 5 - $1.00
Polo Invite
Cookie Time
Art in Oregon
Hawk wrestlers take fourth place at the Polo Invitational Tournament. B1
Local Girls Scouts are once again selling their tasty cookies. A4
A new book about Oregon’s art legacy will be presented at Lunch’n’ Learn. A9
City council approves plan for Settlers Ridge By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com The Oregon City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday evening to approve an agreement aimed at moving a dormant subdivision on its way to development. The council approved a contract with Sycamore National Bank & Trust, which owns the Settlers Ridge Subdivision on the east side of town. “This is a subdivision that was started in 2007 and fell victim to the recession,” said Mayor Ken Williams. “It is in the best interests
of the city to move forward with the installation of utilities so lots can be sold and homes built.” Under the terms of the agreement, the city will provide $107,000 toward project costs, and the bank will provide $75,000. Williams said the city will recover its costs as the lots are sold and developed. Funding for the city’s portion will come from a low interest loan provided by the bank, Williams said, and the city will recover its initial expenditure after 19 of the 50 lots have homes built on them. Commissioner Jim Barnes, who
cast the only dissenting vote, voiced opposition to the plan. “Why doesn’t the bank go ahead and develop it?” he said. “I do not see the city going into this, borrowing the money and making the payments, and maybe getting the money back.” Barnes said it could take 10 years for 19 homes to be built in the subdivision. Williams said that the bank hasn’t moved to develop it in the nine years since they took the property over. “I think the risk is acceptable, and it will be good for the city,” he said.
Commissioners Tim Izer, Kurt Wilson, and Terry Schuster agreed and cast yes votes along with Williams. Williams said that fiber optics will be run to the subdivision along with the other utilities. “Our city will be the first in the region to offer a new home subdivision with fiber optic communication capabilities,” he said. “This is a progressive cutting edge step that sets us apart from other communities and makes a statement that the City of Oregon is open for business.” He said the subdivision includes
four commercial lots, 36 lots for single family homes, nine fourapartment buildings, and three duplexes. Lots may be available this spring. Fully developed the subdivision would bring in an estimated $70,000 in real estate taxes to the city each year and $195,000 to the Oregon School District. Development of the subdivision was started several years ago by then-owner Chris Heal. The project got as far as streets and city water and sewer being installed before the property was taken over by the bank.
Oregon woman is the first to accept Million Constitution Challenge By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com
Independence. Foss contacted an expert and learned that the prints and the plates that made them were the work of Czech-born lithographer Theodore Ohman. As a boy, Ohman learned the lithographic printing process from his grandfather and became fascinated with capturing and preserving the original look of both documents after coming to the U.S., according to literature written by Walter Mahan, which accompanied the collection. Ohman employed a complicated and painstaking process to create what was considered to be the truest replica of the Constitution. In 1953, he printed thousands of copies on his four-step printing press in Memphis, Tenn. Some of his prints have been displayed at the National Archives, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Foss and Johnson’s find included prints of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, along with the original printing plates and glass photo negatives and positives that produced them. “Ohman’s goal was to have a copy of the Constitution in every school,” Foss said. “We hope to accomplish that.” The price for one set of both documents is $99, either full or three-quarters size of the originals, and anyone who buys a set during the challenge gets a second set free. Their hope is that purchasers will
An Oregon woman is the first person to accept the Million Constitution Challenge launched recently by two area men. Carol Daniels bought the first copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence offered by Ken Foss, Byron, and Jeff Johnson, Genoa. Daniels met with Foss Jan. 7 to pick up her documents at the Pinecrest Grove Community Center, Mt. Morris, where he runs McKendrie Street Cafe. “It’s just a fantastic find,” Daniels said. “It’s a wonderful thing they’re doing.” Foss and Johnson launched the Million Constitution Challenge on Jan. 1 in an effort to get copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence to schools and military veterans, as well as other Americans. They began their association with the documents by chance. Back in 2011, the two began tearing into old wooden crates left behind by former tenants at a warehouse they owned in Kingston. They knew that the crates held fragile printing materials, but they had no idea what kind of connection to U.S. history they were about to uncover. They began pulling out metal press plates, giant lithographic prints, and glass photo negatives and positives that revealed images of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of
Restaurant may reopen in spring By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Carol Daniels, Oregon, holds a set of the copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence offered in the Million Constitution Challenge. She bought the first set. Photo by Vinde Wells
Go to WeThePeoplePrints.com or call Foss at 815-734-9484 or 815-980-9484 for more information about the Million Constitution Challenge. give the second set to a veteran, a veterans’ organization, a police station, or a school, Foss said. Daniels said she read about the challenge in the Oregon Republican Reporter. “I got excited,” she said. “I think education is fantastic.” She plans to donate her second set to David L. Rahn Junior High, Mt. Morris. Her own set will be on display first
at the Robinz Nest, Oregon, and later at other public places for everyone to see. “It’s historic and I enjoy history,” Daniels said. “When it comes down to our country, it’s just exciting to have these.” Foss is pleased with Daniels’ decision. “I think the opportunity for someone local to get one and give it to the local school is awesome,” he said. “I’m glad that she is going to display her copy at local places.” Daniels hopes other people will follow her lead. “If anyone is interested in their country’s history and the education of our children, they should do this. It’s well worth the money,” she said.
A well-known Ogle County restaurant is rising from the rubble just 9 months after the most devastating tornado to hit the area in recent memory. Grubsteakers, on the northeast corner of state Routes 64 and 251, was in the direct path of the EF4 tornado that tore through Lee, Ogle, and DeKalb counties on April 9. After months of planning and getting the necessary permits, owner Ava Mirtoska has started rebuilding on the same site, and hopes to reopen sometime in May. “I can’t wait,” she said. “I miss my customers. I can’t wait to see everybody again.” Mild December weather allowed the site to be excavated, the foundation to be poured, and the framework to go up. By now, Mirtoska said, the roof is half done, along with some of the outside brick work. Recent snow and cold temperatures have slowed the work down, but she hopes to have the outside finished by the end of January. “Then they can work on the inside,” she said. Turn to A2
Determination is key to achieving healthier lifestyle By Tina Ketter Communications & Marketing Supervisor Oregon Park District Chris Johnson, Oregon, knew he wanted to make a change. After weighing in at 350 pounds in July of 2014 he started off slowly, walking the central loop at Oregon Park West. As his stamina increased he went from walking .83 miles to the entire trail at 2.13 miles. “When I started I was walking slow and was unable to keep a good pace,” said Johnson, who is a reporter and photographer for Ogle County Newspapers. “By the end of summer I was averaging about 3.5 mph and decided to try and change my food habits.” Johnson, 34, hit a wall with his weight
loss at 340 pounds. He tried a variety of physical activities but nothing was working. Knowing he needed extra motivation and direction if he was going to reach his goal of getting healthy he decided to purchase a membership tothe Oregon Park District’s Nash Recreation Center in November of 2014. “I knew if I waited until New Year’s, I would never stick to a New Year’s resolution. I knew I needed to start right away,” he said. After beginning at Nash, Johnson took things a step further and enlisted Kim Henry, Nash’s personal trainer, for assistance. “I knew if I was paying the money for a membership and a trainer I would take things seriously,” he said. “I did not want to waste that money.” With trainer and membership in hand, Johnson began his journey.
In This Week’s Edition...
Business Briefs, B5 Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6
After going over his basic goals with Kim he left with a basic five-day a week plan to get started. He began with cardio and weights, determined to meet the goals he had set for himself. He admits the first couple of months the workouts were hard, but cutting out the junk food was even harder. “I knew meeting with the trainer would be a good motivator to keep losing the weight and inches,” Johnson said. “I never wanted to go to an appointment for a weight in and find myself heaver than the previous session.” At his one year mark, in November 2015, Johnson stepped on the scale at 290 pounds. He admits the weight loss could have been more, but he has worked with his doctor and is making this a life-style Chris Johnson poses with Scooby-Doo on a trip to change.
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B4 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B3
Turn to A2
Sheriff’s Arrests, B4 Social News, A4 Sports, B1. B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, in November.
Deaths, B4 Harlan E. Blake, Bradley W. Jewell, Robert E. Luy, Karshan A.L. Peterson, Alexis M. Walker
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com