Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
November 24, 2016 Volume 166, Number 50 - $1.00
Exciting Finish
Sculpture Moved
The Lady Hawks took the lead with seconds left to play Nov. 18 against Prophetstown. B1
SoyPod by Pamela Lee has been moved to a new location by the Oregon Library. A6
Nurmet painting is given to board
Statue Preservation
By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The son of a former Ogle County Sheriff presented a painting of the old jail, done by a renowned artist, to the Ogle County Board last week. Mike Lang, 73, Oregon, gave the art work, painted by local artist Harry Nurmet, to the board at its Nov. 15 meeting. “My feeling is because of the history…it needs to stay with the county,” Lang said.
County board chairman Kim Gouker thanked Lang and his family and said the painting will be displayed in the courthouse. “We will display it here for posterity,” he said. Lang said Nurmet gave the painting to his father Ed Lang in 1969 just before the current jail was completed. Made of red bricks in Italianate style and built in 1874, the jail also served as the residence of the sheriff and his family for decades. It was torn down when the Turn to A2
Candlelight Walk offers family fun By Earleen Hinton ehinton@oglecounty news.com
Workers from Quality Restoration wrapped the Black Hawk Statue last week to help prevent further damage to the historic icon that overlooks the Rock River from Lowden State Park. Photo by Earleen Hinton
It’s a wrap! Taft statue gets protective covering By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com Ogle County’s best-known landmark has his winter coat on once again. For the third consecutive winter, the Black Hawk statue at Lowden State Park near Oregon, has been wrapped to protect it from the elements. A team from Quality Restorations, Inc., Wood Dale, spent three days last week wrapping the 50-foot concrete monument in 12 millimeter thick dual-layered polyethylene, padded underneath with blankets, and tied on tight with a half-mile of elastic rope. The rope wrapped around the padded protective plastic covering gives the illusion that the 105-yearold icon is wearing a quilted down snowsuit. Crew supervisor Keith Niles said Friday that the durable black plastic used to cover the statue is designed to keep out moisture, protecting the surface from further damage from the cold and freezing and thawing. The blankets underneath are wrapped around the shoulders and arms to further protect them and to keep their sharp edges from cutting the plastic. Niles said the crew dealt with strong, gusty winds while they worked Thursday and Friday. “We didn’t want to do it in these conditions, but the contract was settled fairly late, and we had to get it done because winter is threatening to come in this weekend,” he said. Quality Restorations, Inc. was hired by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), which has jurisdiction over the statue, to provide and install the protective wrap at a cost of $19,800.
Horse drawn carriage rides, live reindeer, and of course, Santa Claus, are all part of the plan for the 30th Candlelight Walk, slated for Saturday, Nov. 26 in downtown Oregon. “Food, fun and festivities for the whole family, this long-time local tradition is the perfect way to gather together and enjoy the spirit of the season,” said Debbie Dickson, executive director of the Oregon Chamber of Commerce and Candleligght Walk Committee member. “Entertainment, goodies and giveaways are just a small part of the evening events.” The chill in the air is the perfect cue for this year’s event. “Take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane, see live reindeer, warm yourself at the fire stands. We’ll be serving up yummy s’mores, apple cider
donuts, grilled pork chop sandwiches and more,” said Dickson. Free horse drawn rides for the whole family will be offered from 4 p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m. The line for this popular attraction will begin on Franklin Street, on the north side of the Oregon Coliseum. This event is sponsored by Exelon Generation – Byron Station, ExpressLane Shell, and KSB Medical Group. Rides are available on a first come, first served basis. “There may be a line and there is no guarantee on wait time or which wagon will trot you about town,” Dickson said. “Our Coco Hut and coffee stand will offer steamy beverages to chase away the chill while you visit.” Holiday Gift Fair The Holiday Gift Fair will be held on the main floor of the Coliseum. “You will find Turn to A11
Lawmaker had to deal with a heroin death Editor’s note: This is the last of a 4-part series on the growing use of heroin in Ogle County and how it is affecting governmental agencies, addicts, family members and the political process. By Andy Colbert acolbert@oglecounty news.com
Keith Niles of Quality Restoration secures a portion of the wrap on Lorado
Turn to A2 Taft’s Black Hawk Statue. Photo by Earleen Hinton
In This Week’s Edition...
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B14 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Property Transfers, B4
In 2006, Illinois Senator Kyle McCarter’s daughter Amber was found dead alongside train tracks near East St. Louis, the result of a heroin overdose. Surprisingly, McCarter was one of 11 senators that voted against $60-million in state funding for heroin addicts last year.
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
“In my eight years in the senate, I have enjoyed seeing human services help people, but have a hard time seeing results,” McCarter said. Despite the myriad of rehab programs, social service agencies and enacted laws for the addict, recovery rates are abysmally low. Some estimates are that 90 percent of drug addicts go back to their old ways, including Amber McCarter. Treatment centers become revolving doors and other methods employed by government seem to be limited in their scope. “Government is not good at transforming lives,” McCarter said. “About the Turn to A10
Deaths, B4 Sally A. Baumgardner, Linda Burr, Terry L. Colcord, Lucille R. Lovell, Michael W. Schwartz
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com