Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
November 6, 2014 Volume 164, Number 47 - $1.00
Teams Advance
New Ornament
PAG Production
OHS football and volleyball teams advance in state playoff action. B1
A handmade Christmas ornament will raise funds for statue repair. A2
“Arsenic & Old Lace” opens Nov. 7 at the Pinecrest Grove Theatre. A6
Harn claims auditor failed to get documents Emails sent by sheriff to Ogle board members By Matt Mencarini Sauk Valley Media Three release forensic County
days after public of results from a audit of the Ogle administrative tow
fund, Sheriff Michael Harn sent an email to six County Board members that claimed the auditor had failed to get necessary documents from his department. That email and others related to the tow fund and the forensic audit were obtained by Sauk Valley Media through a Freedom of Information Act request. Harn did not attend either
of the County Board’s public meetings Oct. 21, including a regular meeting, where the forensic audit’s results were presented by the auditor. “Just want to send you a little FYI,” Harn said in the email sent Oct. 24. “Since all the County Board has [their] opinion about the tow fund and the articles in the papers I want to inform you of this. I met with the auditor on three
different dates, I explained in detail from start to finish, I explained who he needed to speak to and why things [were] done the way they were and WHO told me I could do things the way I did them. “I’m very unhappy with myself that everything gets twisted, lies, bull----, and the attacks. But I assume responsibility because of
[who] I am.” Harn didn’t respond to Sauk Valley Media’s requests for comment. Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock declined to comment on whether he had passed, or would pass, the forensic audit’s results on to an outside agency for further investigation. Rock, like Harn, lost his election in the March
Republican primary; their terms end on Nov. 30. In his Oct. 24 email, Harn also said he had twice told the auditor, James Sullivan, that a lieutenant had 46 documents that could clear up some of the confusion and disorganization with the tow fund. Ogle County Chairman Turn to A7
Meridian district voters approve tax referendum By Vinde Wells Editor Voters in the Meridian School District went to the polls Tuesday to support paying higher taxes to keep and reinstate educational and extracurricular programs. Results Tuesday night showed that a referendum for a 70-cent tax rate hike in the district’s Education Fund passed by 1,990 votes to 1,573. Meridian Superintendent P.J. Caposey said he was very pleased with the election results. “It’s a great day for our kids,” he said. “I think we’ll be able to provide a first-class education for our students moving forward.” School district officials asked voters to raise real estate taxes in the Education Fund from the present $2.78 per $100 of equalized assessed value (EAV) to $3.48 for the next seven years. Voters in Ogle County approved the referendum 1,905 to 1,446, while Winnebago County voters cast only 85 yes votes to 127
no votes. The hike will increase the taxes on a $150,000 home by $350 per year, excluding exemptions. According to the question on the ballot, the referendum would bring an estimated additional $1.1 million into district coffers annually. “We understand that a burden was placed on our taxpayers, and we don’t take that lightly,” Caposey said. “We appreciate the people who came out to support this.” He said the increase was needed to balance the budget and avoid drastic cuts. The school board had already cut staff and course offerings, and eliminated junior high sports and other activities in an effort to erase a $1.9 million deficit. Without the new tax dollars, Caposey said the board would have been forced to look at further cuts that could increase class sizes, reduce course offerings further, and eliminate the sports program at all levels. The district has faced Turn to A7
Construction Destruction Workers began demolishing a home and apartment building next to the Casey’s store in Oregon this week. The structures were purchased by Casey’s in order to make space for a new, larger store. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Former restaurant to be demolished By Vinde Wells Editor A resolution is in the offing for tearing down a burned out restaurant in Oregon. Police Chief Darin DeHaan said Monday that the remains of Whiskey’s River Smokehouse, 123 N. Second
St., will likely be demolished in the next few weeks. He said he spoke with Jason Benesh, who has been hired to take down what’s left of the restaurant and apartment above it. “It’s a matter of timing with the contractor’s schedule,” DeHaan said. “There’s an
end in sight. We’re hoping it will be done really soon.” In fact, DeHaan said, Benesh has already disconnected the utilities, which is the first step in the demolition process. DeHaan said he has also been in contact with owner Kevin Wedel, who is also
eager to get the building torn down. Last month, DeHaan said the demolition had been delayed because insurance adjustors could not agree on the amount Wedel should receive for his claim. Turn to A2
Family cleans up at costume contest By Chris Johnson Reporter
How can a mouse trap, a Chuckie doll, and a headless man be related. The answer is quite clear when the costumes come off. The Garcia family, Oregon, participated in the 66th annual Halloween Costume Contest sponsored by the Oregon Knights of Columbus. What made this night unique for the family is they took home first place in three of the four categories. Eliana Garcia won the infant and one-year-old category as a mouse trap. The Chuckie doll was her brother Kaeson Garcia, age 2, in the two to four-year-old category. Rounding out the trio was Zander Garcia, age 6, in the five to seven-year-old category as a headless man. “It is exciting to have all three on stage,” said their mother Steph. “It is awesome to be up there.” The only category the Deputy clerk Linda Walter hands 102-year-old voter Betty family did not win was Solyom, Mt. Morris, a ballot Oct. 31. Solyom recently the eight and up division, moved to the area from Elgin. Photo by Chris Johnson
102-Year-Old Votes
In This Week’s Edition...
Business Briefs, B7 Byron Police, B7 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6
Chuckie doll, Kaeson Garcia, age 2, and his sister the mouse in a trap, Eliana Garcia, participated in the annual Halloween costume contest Oct. 31 at the Oregon Coliseum. Photo by Chris Johnson
partially because they did not have a child entered in that category. In the eight and up division, Brayden Williamsen, age 8,
Fines, B6 Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B7 Public Voice, A8
Rock Falls, had the in his division and had the costume of the night. He best of show honors. came dressed up as a popcorn This is not the first time the machine. Turn to A2 Williamsen won first place
Property Transfers, B6 Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2, B3 State’s Attorney, B6
Deaths, B5 Marguerite L. Dietz, Janet M. Dunivan, Marcus Soresi
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