Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
December 22, 2016 Volume 167, Number 2 - $1.00
Winning Streak
Dear Santa
Jail Location
The Lady Hawks are riding a two-game winning streak. B1
Read letters that students wrote to Santa. Inside
An Oregon resident asks the county board to consider a different jail location. A9
Hearing will be held for TIF District
Harn guilty Receives 4 years probation for stealing money while sheriff By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Former Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn will not serve time in jail for the theft of county funds while he was in office. Harn, 55, pleaded guilty in Ogle County Court Monday afternoon to two counts of theft, both Class 2 felonies, reversing the not guilty pleas he entered during a Nov. 10 court appearance. In accordance with a plea agreement, Judge Val Gunnarsson sentenced him to 48 months probation and ordered him to immediately
pay $10,600 in restitution to the Ogle County Treasurer. Special Prosecutor Dave Neal, of the Illinois Office of State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, told Gunnarsson that he and Harn’s attorney John Nocita, West Chicago, had reached a plea agreement. Gunnarsson, a Carroll County Judge appointed to preside over the case, went over the charges and the plea agreement and asked Harn if he understood. Harn replied, “Yes, Sir.” When Gunnarsson asked how he pled, Harn quietly answered guilty to each count.
By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com
Michael Harn (right) sits at the defendant’s table with his attorney, John Nocita of West Chester Monday afternoon in Ogle County Court. As part of a plea deal, Harn received 4 years probation.
“You were a public servant of this county, and I’m sure you recognize that you grossly violated that trust,” Gunnarsson told Harn before passing sentence. Gunnarsson also ordered Harn to perform 384 hours of public service work and
to pay $2,312 in court costs immediately. The judge questioned why Harn had not yet reported to the District 1 state police headquarters in Sterling for booking and fingerprinting, as he had been ordered to at the Nov. Turn to A2
The Oregon City Council set a date for a public TIF District hearing, awarded project bids, and took a look at the Riverfront Zoning Ordinance recommended by the Plan Commission. During the Tuesday evening council meeting, the TIF public hearing has officially been scheduled for Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. at the Oregon Coliseum. A public meeting held Dec. 6 introduced the public to exactly what a TIF District is and what benefits it can have for economic growth. The Feb. 14 public hearing will present the actual plan for Oregon’s proposed TIF. “Between now and the public hearing, there will be two public mailings and two media publications regarding the TIF hearing; we want people there,” said Mayor Ken Williams.
“... We want people there,” – Mayor Ken Williams The council also awarded a bid to Larson & Larson Builders, In. for $1,675,000 for work on Well Houses 2, 3, and 4 New Illinois Environmental Protection Agency guidelines state that, within the well house, chemicals cannot be stored in the same room as the well. According to G. Matthew Hansen, Willett Hoffman & Associates, the well houses are also deteriorating with age, and electrical equipment is in the same room as the water valves. Since renovations would need to be done to accommodate these guidelines anyway, the city is looking to dismantle the old well houses entirely and Turn to A2
Mongan will not face felony charges
Story Time The OES Storybook Holiday event hosted several activities in the rooms surrounding the main gym, each themed around a particular story. In room 238, third grade teacher Martha Schultz offers a relaxing storytime as she reads each of the night’s themed stories aloud. Photo by Zach Arbogast
Park District kicks off celebration By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The Oregon Park District kicked off the celebration of its 50th anniversary Dec. 9 with a family fun night and open house. More than 500 people turned out for Pizza with Santa, a movie in the pool, inflatables, games, and door prizes at the Nash Recreation Center. Oregon Park District Executive Director Erin Folk said the open house was just of first of many special events The main gym was constantly alive with more than 100 people during the Nash planned for the months-long Recreation Center’s 50th anniversary celebration. The gym was filled with activities
An Ogle County grand jury declined to indict an Oregon man accused of boating drunk and causing a crash that killed a Rockford woman in June. Marc W. Mongan, 46, will not be charged with a felony in the death of Megan Wells, 31, Ogle County State’s Attorney Eric Morrow said in a news release Monday afternoon. After listening to witness testimony, watching video statements and considering other evidence, the jurors failed to find probable cause to levy the more severe charges of felony operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol and aggravated reckless operation of a watercraft, Morrow said.
Turn to A2 slide, and the Velcro Wall-Jump. Photo by Zach Arbogast
In This Week’s Edition...
Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B5
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B3
Turn to A9
Man charged with molesting young girl
A Rochelle man was arrested Monday on a charge that he sexually molested a young girl. Richard J. Christensen, 70, was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony. Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Christensen is accused of having sexual contact with the girl from January of 2008 until December of 2014 in Kings. like Giant Connect 4, Human Hungry Hungry Hippos, a bouncy house, giant inflatable Christensen appeared in
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5 Library News, A3
The first could have carried 3 to 14 years in prison, the second 1 to 3 years. Under Illinois law, a finding of probable cause is necessary to bind a defendant over for trial on felony charges. “We respect the decision of the grand jury and believe that the jurors gave thoughtful consideration to the evidence presented,” Morrow said in the release. “Without a finding of probable cause, my office is not legally able to proceed with felony charges.” Mongan still faces misdemeanor charges of operating a watercraft while under the influence and
Richard J. Christensen
court Tuesday and is being held in the Ogle County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.
Deaths, B4 Dorothy M. Broege, Michael W. Hokanson, Michael A. Stocker, Lois E. Voss, Isabelle A. Wisner
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com