Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
July 17, 2014 Volume 164, Number 31 - $1.00
Fair Queen
Model Planes
Athletes Meeting
The 2014 Ogle county Fair Queen will be selected during the July 19 pageant. A7
Remote control airplanes were soaring high July 12-13. B1
A mandatory sports meeting has been scheduled on Aug. 7 for OHS freshman and parents. A9
Questions over bid process for insurance aired By Vinde Wells Editor Before choosing an employee health insurance provider Tuesday night, several Ogle County Board members raised questions over how the bidding process was conducted. Dick Petrizzo, Davis Junction, questioned board chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, about why one insurance provider, the Crum Halsted Agency, was allowed to submit a second bid, lowering its first estimated cost, after the bids had been opened. “I think it’s inappropriate When filming at multiple locations over a month, having camera settings consistent is required to get a quality product. Here Andrew Smith adjusts camera settings while Trevor Kelly holds a white, grey, and black sign to that you went and gathered information from only one of ensure the consistent settings. Photo by Chris Johnson the bidders,� Petrizzo said. He also questioned why the Query Agency, the current provider, was not notified as well to submit a second bid. By Chris Johnson totally worth it.� Gouker said he sought Reporter When filming is complete, the second bid from Crum Klass will have to wait to see Halsted because, initially, A small group of dedicated the finished project. they had only nine months of filmmakers descended on “I am not behind the insurance claim data to base Oregon Sunday morning to camera, but it is going to their bid on, while Query had gather footage for a new short be awesome to see it come 11 months. film. together,� he said. He said the additional data Jay’s Drive-In was the Klass became involved in became available for Crum setting of a scene for film the project because he has Halsted only after the bids “Broiled.� knew Megan St. John, the had been opened. Actor Andrew Klass has a writer/director for the film Claims were high during role in the film. and executive producer of the first six months of the “I am playing the character Third Wheel Entertainment, Tank,� he said. “He is sort of Chicago. a loser that does not know he “Megan approached me is a loser. He thinks he is a lot about being a part of it,� he smarter than he actually is.� said. The motivation for Tank The movie is set in rural is simple and was easy for America, the plot is the story Klass to grasp. of two girls and two boys “He honestly thinks the who coincidentally rob the key to happiness in his life is town bank on the same day. getting a used truck,� Klass “The story is interesting said. “That is his motivation and it is different,� said St. By Vinde Wells throughout the movie.� John. “It is dark and twisted Editor Klass said working on the and funny.� film has been fun because of Using a drive-in in a rural Oregon Fire Protection who he is working with. location was a natural fit District officials said “Everyone here is for her since she grew up in With the camera and lighting set up, actress/director last week that passing a committed 100 percent,� he Montana. said. “Everyone has their “Whenever I write, I set it Megan St. John talks with camera man Andrew Smith referendum is likely the only and sound man Michael Hickey July 13 at Jay’s Drive-in. way for the community to heart in it. The days are long Turn to A2 Photo by Chris Johnson establish and maintain its and exhausting but it is like own ambulance service. The fire district board discussed a referendum at its monthly meeting July 9 and By Vinde Wells activities,� she said. “We answered questions from the Editor have face pairing this year handful of district residents “The weather looks like it’s going to and kids can do landscape who attended. Weather may be the factor be just perfect,� — paintings of the tipis.� “If the referendum doesn’t that ensures the final Oregon Other activities especially pass, I don’t know what we Beth Henderson Trail Days festival goes out with a flair this weekend. festival organizer geared for kids and their do,� said Elburn attorney families include pony rides, Brian O’Connor, who With predicted a pedal train, voyager canoe represents the fire board. the area’s food. temperatures in the low 80s celebrates “Without the referendum, American and A new American Indian rides, as well as a variety of and only a slight chance of Native arts, crafts, and games. we won’t have an ambulance rain Sunday, it could be the western heritage, will be dance group will perform this Sunday activities get off service in town,� said Fire best conditions the festival held Saturday, July 19 and year, Henderson said. to a tasty start with a hearty Chief Don Heller. Ronald Preston, a member has enjoyed in its five-year Sunday, July 20 at Lowden Oregon has been without its State Park on River Road just of the San Carlos Apache breakfast from 8 to 10:30 history. “The weather looks like outside Oregon. Hours are 9 nation, will perform dances a.m. at NIU’s Lorado Taft own ambulance service for a and explain the tradition Field Campus located at month, ever since the Oregon it’s going to be just perfect,� a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Lowden State Park. Ambulance Service, Inc., a Organized in 2010 to help behind them. said festival organizer Beth “We’ve already got well not-for-profit corporation, “The pioneer area is Henderson Tuesday. “It’s raise funds for the restoration over 200 reservations for the closed its doors June 17. always been unbearably hot.� of the Black Hawk statue, also greatly expanded,� Taft breakfast,� Henderson Betty Ferris, who coFor previous festivals, the which sits atop a high bluff at Henderson said. “And we’re said. managed the service with temperatures have edged the park, the festival features going to have real painted For more information her husband Jim, said their Native American ponies for the first time. They toward the century mark tipis, with uncomfortably high dances, a pioneer village, will be painted just like the and a complete schedule of reasons for closing were western demonstrations, Indians used to paint them.� festival activities go to www. financial. She notified the humidity. fire board June 11 that the “We have lots of kids oregontraildays. org. The festival, which vendor booths, and plenty of
Film scene shot at Jay’s Drive-in
insurance year, which begins Aug. 1, Gouker said, but went down after that. Having the additional information meant Crum Halsted could lower its bid, he said. “Then what was the point of having them bid?� asked Lyle Hopkins, Polo. “I would think you would want us to have the most competitive premium we can,� Gouker said. The Crum Halsted Agency presented costs for the Insurance Program Managers Group (IPMG), a self-funded insurance program sponsored by the United Counties Council of Illinois (UCCI). Query offers county employees self-funded insurance through the Group Administrators program. IPMG was recommended to the county board by the Finance, Revenue & Insurance Committee, which heard presentations from four insurance providers. Committee member Greg Sparrow, Rochelle, said two other bidders, NFP Benefits and A. J. Gallagher Benefit Services, were ruled out early because their bids were much higher than either Crum Halsted’s or Query’s. Pat Saunders, Polo, said Turn to A7
Fire district will seek referendum to fund EMS
No rain dance needed for festival
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4 Library News, A3
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, A9 State’s Attorney, B4
ambulance service was shutting down. For the first two weeks, ambulance calls in the fire district were answered by neighboring fire districts, all of which have their own tax-supported ambulance services. Since July 1 an ambulance and crew from ATS Medical Services, Loves Park, has been based at the Oregon Fire Station and is responding to calls from there. The fire board approved a 10-month contract with ATS at the July 9 meeting. Heller told the audience that dwindling payments from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as patients who do not pay at all, were major factors in the Ferris’ decision to close the ambulance service. “The Oregon Ambulance Service did a fantastic job for 40 years,� he said. “I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did.� “Without the bills being paid, we can’t run the service,� said Jim Ferris at the meeting. He said that when the doors Turn to A8
Deaths, B2 Marilyn Butler, Gerald Gorski, Joanne E. Hutmacher, Delbert L. Rademaker
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