Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
December 1, 2016 Volume 166, Number 51 - $1.00
Tough Finish
Earth Angels
PACT Performs
The Oregon Hawks faced a tough Milledgeville team during the Thanksgiving Tournament. B1
Volunteers are needed to assist with a Christmas tradition. A6
“It’s A Wonderful Life” will be performed in Polo Dec. 2-4 at the Buffalo Town Hall. A8
Taxes and TIFs discussed at the council meeting By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com The Oregon City Council discussed next year’s tax levy, approved a façade grant for local builders, and reminded the public of an upcoming TIF meeting. The taxing amount for the 2016 Tax Levy has stayed the same, but the council is collecting less overall - $26, to be exact. “The bottom line is that we’re not collecting any more taxes or money from our residents than we have in the past,” said Finance Commissioner Terry Schuster. “We’re not increasing tax revenue, we’re tightening our budgets Kristoffer Krueger, age 5, Oregon, shakes hands with Santa Claus after he rode into town on an Oregon firetruck to next year to avoid such an kick off the 30th Candlelight Walk on Saturday. Photo by Earleen Hinton increase” The council also approved a façade grant of $1000 to Wiggale LLC, owned by Mark Gale and Kevin Wiegmann. Wiggale applied for the grant to help cover some costs to replacing the second-story windows in the National Clothing House building on the northwest By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Perfect weather for Candlelight Annual event offered family fun, shopping
“We’re not increasing tax revenue, we’re tightening our budgets next year to avoid such an increase,” — Terry Schuster corner of Washington and Fourth Street, which they purchased in 2014. Finally, the council issued a reminder that a public meeting will be held December 6 at the Oregon Coliseum to discuss a proposed TIF district. Mayor Ken Williams described the TIF district as broken up into four key, connected areas: the northern downtown area through Washington Street; the Northeastern Settlers Ridge subdivision; the riverfront; and the southern Pines Road corridor. “Since the start-up costs are the same whether this is your first or fourth TIF district, we opted to cover a larger area in one sweep and avoid paying the $40,000 Turn to A2
Fatal fire remains under investigation
What may be a record crowd came out Saturday evening for the official kick off of the Christmas season By Vinde Wells at Oregon’s 30th Candlelight vwells@oglecounty Walk. news.com People of all ages thronged the streets, downtown A suspicious house fire businesses, Coliseum, and that took the lives of a Byron Conover Square to enjoy the mother and her three-yeardecorations, music, bargains, old son in October remains tasty treats, and holiday under investigation. atmosphere. Lt. Brian Ketter, who “We are extremely pleased heads up investigations for at the attendance,” Oregon the Ogle County Sheriff ’s Chamber of Commerce Department, said Monday Executive Director Debbie that the cause of the fire and Dickson said Monday. “We the cause death of Margaret don’t have the numbers “Maggie” Meyer, 31, are tallied yet, but it appears still being investigated. it was the largest crowd in “We’re still working on several years. At least 550 it,” Ketter said. people rode the wagon rides.” Meyer and her son Amos Horsedrawn wagons, died as a result of the fire complete with sleigh bells, Oct. 19 at their home at provided rides all evening 2020 N. Silverthorn Drive, throughout the downtown. Byron. Dickson said she talked An autopsy revealed that with several people who were Amos died from smoke attending the event for the Four-year-old Julian Leigh, Oregon, checks out one of the reindeer that were on inhalation. first time. display in the drive thru at First National Bank during Candlelight Walk. Photo by The fire was ruled Turn to A9 Earleen Hinton suspicious and is being
investigated by the sheriff ’s department, Byron Police Department, Illinois State Police, and Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office. The fire was reported around 6:40 a.m., apparently by Meyer’s ex-husband and the boy’s father, Duane C. Meyer, 34, Stillman Valley, who was reportedly there to pick up the youngster. When Byron firefighters arrived, Meyer and a Byron police officer were performing CPR on Amos, who had apparently been in an upstairs bedroom. The child and his father were taken to Rockford Memorial Hospital, where Amos was pronounced dead. Firefighters also could hear smoke alarms going off and encountered heavy smoke when they arrived. Maggie Meyer was found dead on the couch on the first floor.
Jerry Brooks honored for 53 years service to county By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Longtime sheriff and county board member Jerry Brooks was honored recently for his half-century of service to Ogle County. The county board approved a resolution Nov.
15 naming Brooks, 84, Oregon, an honorary Ogle County Board member for life. According to the resolution, Brooks has served the county for 53 years, beginning as a deputy sheriff in 1963. He went on to serve 20 years as sheriff from 1970
In This Week’s Edition...
to 1990, the longest of any sheriff, and then served on the county board for another 21 years. Brooks said he did not expect the award that came at his final board meeting. He did not seek re-election this year. “I was surprised,” he said Friday. “I felt very honored
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B4
that the board would do that for me.” Brooks also served on the National Sheriff Board of Directors for 17 years while he was sheriff. According to the resolution, Brook’s name has appeared on 44 different ballots without a single loss. Over the years, he ran for
Guest Columns, A7, B3 Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A7
sheriff, the National Sheriff Board of Directors, county board, and Republican precinct committeeman. He said he enjoyed his years on public service. “I want to thank the residents of Ogle County for allowing me to serve them all those years,” Brooks said. “This is a good county, and it
Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2
has good people.” Born and raised in the county, Brooks said he really didn’t set out to be a police officer. His career started with Ogle Service Company where he sold farm supplies. He then took a job in Dixon Turn to A4
Deaths, B4 & B5
Richard W. Bentley, Helen E. Borneman, Michael C. Greve Sr., Grant G. Groenewold, Kenneth I. Heeren, Virginia L. Schnorr, Arlen C. Wright
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com