Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
October 13, 2016 Volume 166, Number 44 - $1.00
State Bound
Free Concert
Recognition
Oregon’s Ali Scheidecker’s round of 83 qualified her for the state golf match. B1
The Stephen Lynerd Ensemble will perform Sunday at the Grove. A6
The Oregon wastewater treatment plant has been nominated for a state award. A2
Fire board appoints Pecatonica man as chief By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Oregon Fire Department is under new leadership. The fire protection district’s board accepted the resignation of Fire Chief Al
Greene at a special meeting on Sept. 30 and appointed Mike Knoup, Pecatonica, to take his place. Fire Board President Brian Stewart said Greene cited personal reasons in his letter of resignation. Stewart said Fire Capt. Bob Egyed stepped down at
the same meeting, also citing personal reasons. Greene has been fire chief since May 1, 2015 when he replaced Don Heller, who retired. Greene, who is employed as a deputy chief with the Lombard Fire Department, became involved with the
Oregon Fire Department in 1999, teaching Firefighter II classes. He became as a volunteer firefighter on the department in 2002. Egyed had served on the department for more than 20 years. Oregon firefighter and
paramedic Chad Bergstrom was appointed assistant chief on Sept. 30, and former assistant chief Randy Travis was appointed captain. Both Knoup and Bergstrom are employed by ATS Ambulance Service, Loves Park, a company hired by the Oregon Fire
Protection District to provide its ambulance service. Stewart said Knoup has 28 years experience as a firefighter and is a deputy fire chief on the Pecatonica Fire Department. As a paramedic in Oregon, Knoup is already familiar Turn to A2
Should Ogle County Board be smaller?
Pastor honored Sunday By Chris Johnson cxjohnson@oglecountynews.com A pastor was honored Sunday afternoon during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center. “It is an honor to have a building named after me,” said Pastor Norman A. Nelson. “I will work to honor the name.” The Pastor Norman A. Nelson Program Center will be dedicated in the spring. It will be used for indoor activities at the camp year round. Nelson was reminded of his days as a youth when he put on a hard hat before the groundbreaking. “I worked construction for three summers a long long time ago,” he said. “This was before I became a pastor.” Nelson spent years in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago and worked to bring the local youth into the Lutheran church. “There were thousands of youth in Chicago, but they were not attending churches,” said Nelson. “I spent Turn to A2
Bruce McKinney proposed a 16 member board By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Pastor Norman Nelson points to his family Sunday afternoon during a groundbreaking for a building that will bear his name at the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center. Below is the artists rendering of the building. Photo by Chris Johnson
Wellness fair offers a “tune-up for life” By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Wellness and Resource Fair provided flu vaccines, health screenings, wellness activities, cooking demonstrations, and even a bit of pampering to the public. The Rock River Center in Oregon kicked off the 2016 “Tune-Up For Life” Wellness and Resource fair at 9 a.m. Friday, and gave visitors no shortage of information to help improve their quality of life. The Ogle County Health Department, Tri-County Opportunities Council, the Polo Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, Pinecrest Community, and KSB were among the 44 exhibitors present. Susan Skyler conducted a workshop helping families recognize early warning signs of Alzheimer’s. Skyler is the Manager of Education and Outreach for Registered Nurse Cindy Schwartz injects a flu vaccination the Alzheimer’s Association. Other workshops included Oct. 7 during the Wellness Fair at the Rock River Center. “Caregivers Need Care Photo by Chris Johnson Too” from University of
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4 Library News, A3
Illinois Extension Family Life Educator Karla Belzer, and “Color Me a Memory” from Michelle Brown, LPN Memory Care Manager for Pinecrest Community. OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center provided Cholesterol and Glucose screenings, Connect Hearing gave hearing screenings, and Ear Otoscopes were conducted by Miracle Ear. Several providers at the fair provided blood pressure screenings. In the cafe area, Nutrition and Wellness Educator for University of Illinois Extension Marilyn Csernus was demonstrating healthy recipes to the public by cooking up some pumpkin pancakes. Those looking for a little pampering could enjoy some reflexology from Sole Expressions and hand paraffin dips by Neighbors Rehabilitation, Byron. The Ogle County Health Department was administering flu vaccines at the end of the entrance hallway. “I think this is an amazing Turn to A2
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B5 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B5 Reading Matters, A10
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1-B2 State’s Attorney, B3
An Ogle County Board member believes the body could do with fewer members and has asked for a committee to study the issue. Bruce McKinney, Rochelle, told the county board at its September meeting that he would like to see the board reduced from its current 24 members to 16. He asked Board Chairman Kim Gouker, Byron, to appoint a committee to study the issue now, well ahead of the 2020 census, after which that change could be made. “We’re too large for our size of county,” McKinney, who is also the Rochelle City Clerk, said Oct. 7. “There are other counties larger than us that have 10 or 12 members.” Gouker said last week that while he is willing to bring the question before the
board’s Executive Committee for discussion, he believes its too soon to form a committee. “It’s a little premature,” he said. “It wouldn’t happen until 2022.” McKinney told the board he believes the discussions need to begin as soon as possible. He said last week that the change would save the county about $50,00 over a 10-year period. Board members are paid $150 per month for attending three meetings, and another $50 per meeting after that. They are also reimbursed for mileage. The board chairman is paid an additional $250 per month. Besides the monthly board meetings, board members also serve on numerous committees which also meet monthly. Changing the size and configuration of the board can be done only after a census, and any changes take effect at the first election after the census. Turn to A8
Mayor calls AOP a great function By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Oregon mayor voiced his satisfaction with Autumn on Parade during Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Mayor Ken Williams took the time to share his appreciation for the event. He called it a great function, and thanked the police department and all the city workers who put in their time for making it look so good. “There were people parked all across the city; I hadn’t seen that in years” exclaimed Williams. “It was a real collaboration of public and private service; it really worked out well.” The council also table resolution 2016-6, which would have accepted the Settler’s Ridge Subdivision. According to city
“It was a real collaboration of public and private service; it really worked out well” – Mayor Ken Williams engineer Corey Buck, Willett Hofmann & Associates, a certification is needed stating that everything is proper, and he cannot issue that without a few documents – namely, proof from the lead engineer of the street work project that the work was finished properly and is up to code. Once Buck receives all necessary documents, he can issue the city council certification to move forward. The next city council member will be held on Oct. 25 at 5:30 p.m.
Deaths, B4 Chad W. Copeland, William G. Himert, Linda N. Little, David C. Wright
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com