Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
Butterfly Release Remember loved ones by releasing a butterfly at Serenity Hospice July 9. A4
June 16, 2016 Volume 166, Number 27 - $1.00
Slam N Jam
Memorial Walk Registration is underway for the annual Lois Nelson Walk. A4
Heat and humidity didn’t stop the fun at the Oregon Park District’s Slam N Jam. B1
New platform to make view better at depot
Path to Lowden planned
Watching trains will be easier, and safer
City backs the park district’s ITEP application
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com A new viewing platform beside the Oregon Depot will soon allow local and visiting railroad buffs a comfortable and safe look at trains on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks. Oregon Depot Museum Board Chairman Roger Cain said last week that the platform, slated to be in place by the end of July, is also designed for bicycle enthusiasts. “It’s multi-purpose, and its designed to be a tourist destination,” Cain said. “We want the depot museum to be emphasized along with the viewing platform and bicycling. It’s almost a threefer.” Cain approached the city council and local businesses last year for funding and assistance to build the steel, covered platform. All chipped in for the community effort. “The viewing platform was planned so that we don’t have to man this [the depot museum] full-time, and people still have a place to be comfortable to watch trains,” Cain said. He and fellow board member Otto Dick looked at other viewing platforms around the state and decided a steel structure would work best, especially since local manufacturers are steel fabricators and could lend their expertise to the project.
They decided to tie the platform to biking with the hope of tapping into funds available for recreation. The city council readily agreed to help out with $33,000 toward the platform. “They found some recreation money to chip in and support this,” Cain said. “I’m really glad to have the council’s support.” The platform will include a bike repair station with tools and equipment, as well as a place to fill water bottles. Local biking enthusiasts liked the idea and created nine bike trails around the area that will begin and end at the depot. Local business partners joined in, too, including F.N. Smith, E.D. Etnyre Co., Exelon Generation, Beesing Welding, and Fastenal, “They’ve brought us to the point that all our steel is ready to be erected,” Cain said. Crews from Exelon have already drilled to holes for the steel framework, and Cain said he expects it will be set in place before the end of June. The Oregon Depot, now owned by the City of Oregon, was built by the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad in 1913 and fell into disuse and neglect after passenger rail service to Oregon stopped in 1971. A group of dedicated volunteers began an ambitious restoration in 2001, and today the result is the Depot Museum, which is open every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon. Besides Cain and Dick, other depot board members are Bonnie Hendrickson, Skip Johnson, David Head,
By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com
Above, Oregon Depot Museum Board members Otto Dick and David Head stand in front of the steel framework for the viewing platform being fabricated at F.N. Smith. Below, is an artist’s rendering show what the completed viewing platform at the Oregon Depot will look like. Photos supplied
and Rich Rhoads, who also gave their time, along with many others, to help with the restoration efforts. Depot Dates • 1872 the original Oregon train depot is constructed. • 1893 the train depot is completely destroyed by a
fire. • 1894 a replacement depot is erected. • 1909 fire again strikes the depot, but most of the building is saved. • 1913-1914 the depot that stands today is built by the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railway.
• 1971 all passenger rail service to Oregon is discontinued and the depot is used as a freight office. • 1985 the dilemma over preservation of the depot starts in September when the Burlington Northern Railroad
A proposed bike trail from Oregon to Lowden State Park along River Road was met with support Tuesday night. Chastain & Associates engineer Curtis Cook attended the Oregon City Council meeting to explain the project. “I am working with the (Oregon) park district on a bike path to Lowden,” he said. “It would go through the woods to River Road.” At the south end of the hill the state would pave the existing aggregate shoulder on both sides of the road to create a path. “The six foot paved shoulder would be separated by a rumble strip and you would travel with the direction of traffic,” Cook said. “I met with IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) and they are behind the project.” The path would continue as a sidewalk within the city limits. Currently there is a small path in Oregon Park East but it does not officially connect to the sidewalk on Ill. 64. Cook said the park district is planning to submit an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant by the end of the week. “The lead agency for this project is the park district,” he said.
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Law Enforcement Torch Run brings joy to Oregon By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecounty news.com Special Olympians were glowing with excitement last week when the Flame of Hope was brought into Oregon. The torch, carried by local law enforcement workers June 8, was heading to Illinois State University, Normal, for the annual summer Special Olympics for track and field. When the torch reached downtown Oregon, all the athletes were waiting to cheer them on. Athletes from the Village of Progress (VOP) made signs to cheer on and thank the law enforcement officers for the assistance with spreading the word about the Special Olympics. Having the torch in Oregon was extra special for five athletes from the VOP. Five athletes won gold
medals to qualify for the summer games that were held June 10-11. The Flame of Hope was handed from community to community before reaching the opening ceremony. Dan Daub, court security for the Ogle county Sheriff’s Department organized the local run for the second year. He was joined during the run by fellow Sheriff’s Deputies and members of the Oregon, Byron, and Mt. Morris Police Departments. Each law enforcement officer raised $100 for Special Olympics through the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Oregon run was held between the Black Hawk Statue scenic pull off north of town to downtown Oregon. Following the run in Oregon the torch was brought to Dixon, Sterling, and Rock Falls.
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
At left, Dan Daub, court security for the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department, left, runs next to Oregon Officer Matt Kalnins, who is carrying the Special Olympics Torch during the annual torch run through Oregon. Above, Tammy Sigler, Oregon, adjusts her glasses as she supports the run. Photos by Chris Johnson
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A7 Public Voice, A8 Property Transfers, B3
Sheriff’s Arrests, B2 Social News, A4 Sports, B1 State’s Attorney, B2
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com
Deaths, B3 Mary A. Fassler Marie A. Nanninga Bettie R. Withers