Orr 052616

Page 1

Serving Ogle County since 1851

OREGON Republican Reporter

May 26, 2016 Volume 166, Number 24- $1.00

Hawks Statebound

Tourism Tab

Lady Hawks Fall

The Hawks track team has high hopes headed into the state meet in Charleston. A14, B1

The Ranger will help guide you to local events, attractions. Insert

Miscues hurt the Lady Hawks as they lose to Stillman Valley in the regional. A14

Gaming issues for problem gamblers

101 seniors graduate from OHS Ebens, valedictorian, Reckamp, salutatorian

Editor’s note: This is part 3 of a 4-part series on the impact of local video gaming terminals.

By Andy Colbert acolbert@oglecountynews.com At 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, Oregon High School Principal Andrew Nelson instructed 101 graduating seniors to move their tassels from the left to the right, and then turn around and face the 1,500 people in attendance at the Blackhawk Center. With that, Nelson proudly said to the well wishers, “I present the class of 2016.” Much the same way an incoming freshman is told time will seemingly go faster for the next four years than they’ve experienced, the Oregon High School commencement was over. Earlier in the ceremony, Nelson acknowledged 33 seniors who graduated with honors, including cum laudes, National Honor Society, community service and Premier Scholars. Three grads were also mentioned for entering the Armed Services. Close to half the class had a GPA over 3.0. “We gave out over $350,000 in scholarships and have 11 seniors with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher,” Nelson said. The class valedictorian was Jacob Ebens, who led all classmates with 689 hours of public service, besides being a Premier Scholar, member of the National Honor Society and a summa cum laude. “We entered kindergarten with one step,” said Ebens in his senior reflection. “One step – that’s all. One step leads to all others. “Looking back on our past four years, our steps were heavy with burden or carefree and light. There are many more step to come and that will lead us on the greatest journey of our life,” he said. Paul Reckamp, National Society Member, Premier Scholar and summa cum laude gave the salutatorian address. He likened the time at OHS to a movie. “The credits at Oregon High School are Turn to A2

By Andy Colbert acolbert@oglecountynews.com

Trey Wilson, left, and Donta Yocum, right, make their way out of the Blackhawk Center following commencement for Oregon High School Class of 2016 on Sunday. Photo by Earleen Hinton

Oregon High School graduates Genevieve Sweeney and Christy Steuerwald, center, watch as some of their classmates throw their caps into the air at the end of commencement on May 22. Photo by Earleen Hinton

The sole purpose of a slot machine is to redistribute wealth from the poor and stupid to the rich. At least that’s the definition from the Urban Dictionary. Not all people that play slots are poor and stupid. Many are highly educated and have plenty of disposable income. But, a percentage of those will continue to play slots despite harmful and negative consequences. “As far as I’m concerned, the only places that should have gambling are Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City,” said a husband of a problem gambler. His wife also realizes she has a gambling addiction and has gone as far as having herself banned from casinos in Illinois and the surrounding states. That does not prevent her from entering any of the 40-plus establishments in Ogle County that offer video gaming terminals. She tried them and lost hundreds of dollars. “I hope these places go out of business,” her husband said ruefully. “There are six of them within four blocks of where we live. They don’t belong here.” Though video gaming is a temptation for problem gamblers, they are probably here to stay. But, is there is anything that can be done to include video gaming establishments on the self-exclusion list that the Illinois Gaming Board offers for casinos? “It’s something we are working on,” said Gene O’Shea, Director of the Statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program for Problem Gamblers. “Our chairman and board are very interested in it.” The Gaming Board began its first selfexclusion program in 2002; about 10 years after casinos were licensed in Illinois. Currently, there are 11,958 people who have voluntarily signed up. Turn to A7

Opponents of new rail line address county board, again Line would pass through eastern Ogle County By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com

Old School Days Zilah Dossett, Candance Scott, Isabelle Dossett, and Michelle McCardles were busy identifying an artifact while sitting on the floor of the historic Chana School during an old-fashioned school day visit on May 20. The home school students from Grace Workshops, Rochelle, studied one-room schools before their visit to the historic tworoom schoolhouse located in Oregon Park East. Photo by Earleen Hinton

In This Week’s Edition...

Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B10-B14 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B7

Several opponents of the proposed Great Lakes Basin Railroad again urged the Ogle County Board last week to pass a resolution against the $8 million project. “We’ve got to nip this in the bud,” said Cindy Brown, Lindenwood, who also spoke at the April 19 meeting along with several others. Teresa Petry, Rochelle, asked the board to officially oppose the plan. “The railroad will change Ogle County in many ways,” she said.

Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon library, A6 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B7

Although the plans now call for the railroad to go through the east side of the county, Petry said that could change as much as 30 miles in either direction. “It could run through your backyard,” she said. Robert Walsh, Lindenwood, echoed her concerns. “Please protect our farmland and our way of life,” he said. Opponents have cited potential danger to the watershed, farmland, the environment, and wildlife. The rail system would be entirely funded by private investors led by Frank Patton, Crete, a former software developer. The Surface Transportation Board, an agency that works independently within the U.S. Department of Transportation, organized 10

Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, A14, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3

Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com

public meetings last month, including one in Rochelle, to gather input on a proposed 278-mile rail line project that would extend from southern Wisconsin to northern Indiana. The system would extend from Milton, Wisconsin, to La Porte, Indiana, requiring overpasses for several interstates and four rivers, including the Rock River in Ogle County. The route would run through sparsely populated areas, bypassing the congested Chicago rail system. The new rail lines would connect with existing Class I railroads. Plans call for one of the branches to connect with Rochelle’s rail system on the city’s southeast side before continuing to an Interstate 39 overpass.

Death, B3 Lowell L. Beggs


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.