Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
August 27, 2015 Volume 165, Number 37 - $1.00
Volleyball Preview
River Sweep
Serenity Shed
The Oregon Lady Hawks have a talented roster that looks to compete in the conference. B1
Volunteers are needed to help clean the Rock River Sept. 12. A6
Re-purposing donated items and socializing is the goal of a new facility in Oregon. A12
School district projecting $770K in red ink By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com Declining property values and stagnant state funding means the Oregon School District will likely be in red ink to the tune of almost $770,000 by the end of the 2015-16 school year. Superintendent Tom Mahoney told the school board Aug. 17 that
he expects an overall deficit of $765,176 in the district’s four main funds next June 30 when the fiscal year ends. The largest shortfall — $816,508 — is projected in the Education Fund. Salaries and most expenses are paid from there. The Operations & Maintenance Fund shows a projected deficit of $83,476.
The Transportation Fund and Working Cash Fund, however, show positive balances of $44,576 and $90,232 respectively. Facing a projected deficit of $1.1 million at the end of 2014-15 school year, the school board made $415,000 in staff cuts last spring, but Mahoney said the effect was minimal. “Even though $415,000 was
cut, revenues reduced by the same amount,” he said. The amount of property taxes the district receives has steadily declined for several years, he said. “The district’s EAV [equalized assessed value] continues to drop. It’s at 2007 levels,” Mahoney said Tuesday. “The loss of local revenue is driving the deficit, and the state has not provided adequate funding.
We are receiving over $1,000,000 less than in General State Aid then the amount received in 2007. In districts that are thriving financial, their EAV is starting to climb again.” That may change for the better soon, however. Ogle County Supervisor of Turn to A2
City says no wine at the Coliseum
Oregon’s Citizen of the Year and Volunteer of the Year
By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
2015 Citizen of the Year Tim O’Rourke tries on his ceremonial glasses while Oregon Stan Eden acknowledges the crowd as he prepares to take Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Dickson enjoys the moment. Photo the stage to accept Volunteer of the Year award. Seated with him is his wife, Loretta. Photo by Chris Johnson by Chris Johnson
O’Rourke, Eden receive Chamber awards White lies get volunteers to award dinner By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com Little white lies were required to make sure two Oregon men attended the annual Oregon Chamber of Commerce Dinner on Aug. 20. Tim O’Rourke and Stan Eden were both expecting to represent organizations they volunteer with. Little did they know they would be the stars of the show. “I would have never been here if they hadn’t faked me out,” said O’Rourke after being named the Citizen of the Year. He was attending the event to represent the Candlelight Walk committee, an event he has been part of for years. “A soft spoken and kind spirit, always professional and friendly, this individual keeps well hidden the countless ways that the seeds of his efforts have taken root and thrived beyond measure,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Dickson. “As an educator, his humor and creativity in the classroom captured the attention of our future – the youth of our town - opening minds to the possibility,
potential and promise that a cultivated mind can achieve. He has leant a well rounded and attentive forethought to boards and committees, speaking after careful examination of the facts, and lending insightful contributions that best serve the organization. “A conduit of our community history, this docent loves sharing the experience of a ‘walk back in time’ with others,” she continued. “As we all know, there are those not particularly glamorous tasks, that none the less need handling, and this gentleman has certainly rolled up his sleeves, unloading trucks, and stocking and delivering essential supplies for and to those in need. In these days of busy, busy, busy, this shining star is an exemplary individual whom some of you may recognize as ‘Mr. Peppermint of Candlelight Walk fame’.” Even after being named citizen of the year, O’Rourke was downplaying the honor. “I don’t deserve this. I just do what I like,” he said. “ All those years of Little League, I never got an award, I just wanted to be in the background.” He quickly steered the talk to students he had the opportunity to teach in the Oregon School District for many years as their fourth and fifth grade teacher.
In This Week’s Edition...
2015 Volunteer of the Year Stan Eden is surrounded by his family after accepting the honor. Pictured, left to right, are: Janet Eden, Maggie Eden, Teresa Eden, Chelsea Eden, Levi Eden, Michaela Eden, Stan, Loretta, and Mark Eden. Photo by Earleen Hinton
His love of baseball was something he always shared with his students. After school, Mr. O. as he was called by several students, held baseball card trading activities in his classroom. To this day he is a devoted Chicago White Sox fan. “I never give up on the White Sox and they will win this year — another game I hope,” O’Rourke said. He even remembered when this reporter brought Chicago Cubs cupcakes to class for a birthday party, to see the reaction of Mr. O, before revealing a White Sox cupcake, because there was no way a White Sox fan could eat a Cubs cupcake.
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B7-B12 Entertainment, A6 Library News, A8
Volunteer of the Year Minutes before O’Rourke received his award, Stan Eden, representing the Autumn on Parade Committee, was seated with his wife Loretta with fellow AOP members trying to finish his blueberry dessert when Dickson started to read a biography of this year’s volunteer of the year. “Never seeking recognition or the spotlight, this years’ shining star recipient has volunteerism as an anchor trait. From church committees providing winter coats and Christmas gifts for children in need, to service on the Oregon Rotary Club, the tireless and countless contributions
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B6 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5
Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
this outstanding individual makes for the benefit of others is exactly why he is so deserving of tonight’s award,” she said. Eden paused and briefly looked up, as Dickson continued: “An honorable veteran and an active member of the Oregon VFW, this man serves as a Post Officer, marches in parades, serves breakfasts and packs baskets for families in need at holiday time. Although now retired, farming runs through his veins and he continues to serve the needs of area farmers, advising and consulting, and reminiscing I suspect, over the toils, frustrations and fascinations Turn to A10
A decision by the Oregon City Council to deny a wine tasting/fundraising event at the Oregon Coliseum left an organizer speechless. “Wow — just wow,” said Oregon Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Dickson by phone Tuesday night. “I am rather blindsided by this.” Following a 4-1 vote by the council Tuesday night to deny allowing alcohol to be served at the Oregon Coliseum, the Oregon Chamber of Commerce will need to look for a new venue if they want to continue to host a wine tasting event during Autumn on Parade. “We will try to find another location to host the event,” said Dickson. The only support for the event was by Oregon Mayor Ken Williams. “It is my understanding that they thought it was approved,” said Williams during the meeting. “If denied, they would need to find another site. The city code does not allow alcohol in our buildings.” Williams said the council has the ability to make an exception to this rule. Williams, who co-owns the Pinehill Inn with his wife Chris, has hosted the wine tasting event at his business in past years. “We do not allow food and drink upstairs in the Coliseum. I understand this will be upstairs,” said commissioner Jim Barnes before making a motion to deny the request. “We do not allow alcohol in there.” Barnes asked how can the city can say no to other events if this is approved. “What does this do if we allow the Chamber to have alcohol in there and someone wants to have a graduation party or a wedding reception?” said Barnes. “How do we tell them no. I got a real problem with this.” Williams asked if Barnes talked to the Oregon Chamber president about the wine tasting/fundraising event. Barnes said he had not. Turn to A2
Deaths, B5
Christopher H. Ascher, Doris R. Blake, Sandra L. Brady, Nancy A. Bunger, Dolores I. Gecan, James A. Hinkle, Lorraine E. Krueger
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com