Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
Tough Competition The Art Carlson Hawk Classic will be held at OHS track on Friday night. B1
Recycling
May 1, 2014 Volume 164, Number 20 - $1.00
Freshmen Help
Ogle County residents can take advantage of a free electronics recycling event May 3. A6
OHS Freshman went out into the community April 23 for service projects. A8
Victim of dog attack grateful for public’s concern 63-year-old is home recovering from injuries
was recuperating at home. Aneda Ebert, 63, 3413 Dugdale Rd., said Tuesday that she is very grateful for the concern people have expressed for her and the help that’s been offered. By Vinde Wells “The support has been Editor overwhelming. People have Eight days after she was been wonderful,� she said. viciously attacked by three Ebert suffered severe dogs, a rural Ashton woman injuries to her neck, shoulder,
arms, and leg, and spent four days at KSB Hospital, Dixon, before being released April 25. “I’m healing — my nurse (husband Larry) says I look better every day,� said Ebert, who appeared in good spirits despite the ordeal. “I’m mauled. I’m just a mess. I have stitches everywhere.� She was almost home
from her morning jog April 21 when two pit bulls and a smaller brown dog ran out of a neighbor’s yard and attacked her. Larry, who was out riding his bike, was some distance done the road and saw the dogs shaking something. He soon realized they were attacking his wife and sped to her rescue, scaring the dogs
Trail Days official asks for return of “Starry Night� tipi that was taken April 26-27 a different artist or group of artists. After discovering the tipi was missing, Henderson checked with the staff at McDonald’s and Shell, thinking someone might have moved it inside to protect from the rain overnight. However, no one had moved the tipi or even seen what happened to it. This is the last time the colorful tipis will be placed around the community. “They won’t be going up again around town,� Henderson said. “It’s been five years — they’re wearing out.� The tipis will still be displayed at the festival, which is held at Lowden State Park. Henderson said she plans to file a report with the Oregon Police Department, but mainly she just wants to tipi back. “Just return it, no questions asked,� she said.
Beth Henderson and her crew of tipi builders got an unpleasant surprise Monday morning when they started their annual task. The tipi set to go up at McDonald’s in Oregon had been stolen. Henderson said she distributed the tipi canvases Sunday evening at the various locations where the Native American shelters are erected each year to advertise the Oregon Trail Days festival. “We went there to take the poles this morning and it was gone,� she said Monday. The tipi, a rendition of Claude Monet’s “Starry Night� done by local artists, is situated each year in the northwest corner of the McDonald’s parking lot next to the Shell station. It’s one of a couple dozen put up each spring to let the public know about the upcoming festival held the third weekend in July. Anyone with information Each tipi is painted in an can call Henderson at 815individual, unique design by 732-2523.
By Vinde Wells Editor
This tipi, a rendition of Claude Monet’s “Starry Night� done by local artists, was taken before being set up in the McDonald’s parking lot next to the Shell station in Oregon. Photos supplied
Consequences of underage drinking? Officials met to discuss issue By Vinde Wells Editor Officials at a meeting on underage drinking last week stressed the importance of making youths aware of both the dangers and consequences
of drinking alcohol. Joanie Padilla, Director of Health Education and Emergency Preparedness at the Ogle County Health Department, told the audience of approximately 30 people that studies have shown that some youngsters begin drinking as early as the sixth grade. “The younger they start,
the more chance there is for problems,� she said. Mandy Wood, a counselor at Sinnissippi Centers, Inc., said parents and other adults should begin talking to youngsters as early as possible about the dangers drinking alcohol can bring. “Talk to your kids honestly about alcohol,� Wood said. “When an incident occurs,
Approximately 30 local residents and officials attended the underage drinking meeting sponsored by Project LEAD April 24. Photo by Vinde Wells
In This Week’s Edition...
I saw Larry’s face.� Dr. Tom Champley, Ogle County Animal Control Administrator, said last week that Larry’s quick action likely save her life. “It’s a good thing her husband was right there or it might have been a fatality,� Champley said. Turn to A2
Study says sheriff has too many duties
Tipi Taken By Vinde Wells Editor
off. “They started biting at my elbows and I knew I was in trouble,� Ebert said. “Then they got more vicious and they were growling. They got me down, and they had me by the neck. I protected my face. Larry saw them drag me at least 15 feet. I can’t believe the grip they had. There was nothing I could do. And then
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
talk about what happened and how to make better choices. Make sure they have consequences.� Padilla and Wood were two of the presenters who spoke at a meeting organized by Project LEAD of Ogle County April 24 at Nash Recreation Center to discuss the increasing problem of underage drinking. Project LEAD (Leaders Encouraging Abstinence from Drugs) of Ogle County is a recently formed partnership between Lutheran Social Service of Illinois (LSSI) and Ogle County schools, businesses, parents, social service agencies and government services. The community coalition is working to reduce substance abuse among Ogle County youth. Padilla cited statistics that show 71 percent of high school students nationwide report drinking alcohol, and
Oregon Library, A10 Oregon Police, B5 Property Transfers, B6 Public Voice, A9
Turn to A2
A Rochelle woman told the Ogle County Board recently that the sheriff has too many duties. Diane McNeilly said the Ogle County League of Women Voters recently did a study of several Illinois county sheriffs and discovered that the Ogle County Sheriff is responsible for more departments, employees, and money than his counterparts. “It doesn’t allow him enough time to do statemandated duties,� she told the county board April 15. Besides overseeing the Sheriff’s and Corrections Departments, Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn is also in charge of the Ogle County Emergency Management Agency, the county’s Buildings & Grounds, Information Technology, telecommunications, and security for the courts as well as all county properties. In all, he oversees more than 80 county employees and a large share of the county’s budget. “The Ogle County Sheriff is responsible for more departments and funds than other counties surveyed. Checks and balances and supervision can be an issue in delivering services,� according to the report McNeilly presented to the board. McNeilly said the recommendation of the
League of Women Voters is that the county board remove Buildings & Grounds and Information Technology from the sheriff’s duties and instead appoint a department head for each. The recommendation calls for two new department heads who should “report through the regular county committee structure.� McNeilly said only seven of the 11 counties contacted responded to the organization’s request for information. Ogle County officials did not respond, she said, and officials in three other counties told her Harn had requested they not participate. McNeilly said the three other counties that did not respond were Boone, LaSalle, and Whiteside. The counties that participated were Carroll, DeKalb, Lee, Kendall, McHenry, Stephenson, and Winnebago. In none of the responding counties does the sheriff serve as computer services director, maintain the Information Technology System or maintain county buildings. Winnebago County was the only one where, like Ogle, the sheriff also serves as the Emergency Management Agency director and provides security for all the county’s buildings and grounds. Harn did not respond to a phone call from Ogle County Newspapers seeking his comments for this story.
Ogle morgue on the move to make room for new building By Vinde Wells Editor Ogle County Coroner Lou Finch and his staff began moving the county morgue Tuesday in preparation for construction of a new sheriff’s administration building. Deputy coroner Jeanette Bennett said crews are scheduled to begin removing the siding from the building
Sheriff Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6
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where the morgue is currently located on Friday. “It has asbestos so we can’t be anywhere near it,� she said. Demolition of the building is slated to begin May 15. The morgue building is being torn down to make way for the new administration building which will be located on the east side of the property at 103 Jefferson St., Turn to A2
Deaths, B5 Sarah E. Buschek, James T. Welty