Orr 2017 03 16

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Serving Ogle County since 1851

OREGON Republican Reporter

March 16, 2017 Volume 167, Number 14 - $1.00

Season Previews

Farm Focus

Science Siesta

The Hawk track and baseball teams are preparing for the spring season. B1

Find out where to get food from local producers. Inside

Girls are encouraged to sign up for an annual overnight science event in April. A7

Volunteers are needed to serve on area boards By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com

Ann Jones, Oregon, speaks against the proposed location for the Ogle County Jail during a March 9 public meeting in Oregon. She said closing the street would cause traffic flow problems for funerals, weddings, and other church functions. Photo by Earleen Hinton

Jail plan hits a roadblock By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com The votes needed simply may not be there to close South Sixth Street in Oregon for the new Ogle County Jail. Two Oregon City Commissioners indicated March 9 that they will not vote in favor of closing the 100 block of South Sixth to allow the county board to build a jail connecting to the judicial center across the street. Closing the street takes a super majority — yes votes from four of the five council members. “We’re not against the new jail,” said Commissioner Jim Barnes. “We just don’t think it should be in downtown Oregon.” Commissioner Tom Izer had another reason. “I don’t want Sixth Street tore

“We’re not trying to ruin the neighborhood. We’re trying to do the best thing for all the citizens of Ogle County” — Kim Gouker Ogle County Board Chairman up,” he said. Izer, who is the Street Commissioner, said that street and maybe others will have to be torn up to move water and sewer mains and other buried utilities. The two were among more than 130 people who attended a three-hour meeting at the Oregon Coliseum to learn more about the county’s plan

to build a new jail a block away from where county jails have been located since 1841. Ogle County Board Chairman Kim Gouker said locating the jail on the east side of the 100 block of South Sixth, which the county already owns, rather than at another location farther away will save both construction and maintenance costs. “We’re doing this because this is the best location,” he said. “We’re not trying to ruin the neighborhood. We’re trying to do the best thing for all the citizens of Ogle County.” County officials have requested that the city council close the block, but no decision has been made. City Commissioner Terry Schuster asked if the city council’s refusal to Turn to A8

First Chocolate Walk draws 200

Library plans open house The Oregon Public Library will host an open house on Friday, March 17 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. to showcase the newly renovated building. The building has undergone a complete transformation on all three floors, including the addition of an elevator and handicapped accessible restrooms. The public is invited to come and see the changes and the newly rehung Eagle’s Nest art collection in the gallery.

Park district, city reach agreement on police services

By Randy Holland Oregon Together More than 30 Oregon businesses served tasty chocolate treats to more than 200 people March 9 at the first annual Oregon Chocolate Walk. The walk was organized by the Festivals, Events, Dining, and Shopping (FEDS) Committee of Oregon Together, the organization that is bringing the monthly Movie Nights to the Coliseum. Walkers of all ages had brightly colored maps of the participating merchants. On the back of the map was a place where each business owner could put a secret symbol to show that the walker had visited their store. Walkers that visited at least 20 stores qualified for a drawing for one of five gift baskets filled with treasures donated by the participating merchants. One hundred and fifty

Fewer and fewer people are stepping up to serve on local boards and committees, and an Ogle County Board member would like to reverse the situation. Board vice chairman John Finfrock, Mt. Morris, has pointed out to the county board for the last two months that several vacancies are going unfilled for weeks or even months because no one has applied. “I’m trying to increase public awareness and therefore interest,” Finfrock said. “It’s sometimes very tough to get people to apply for these positions.” The county board appoints the members of several county-wide boards such as the 911 Emergency Telephone System Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Regional Planning Commission, Board of Review, Civic Center Authority, Board of Health, Mental Health 708 Board, Farmland Assessment Review Board, Housing Authority, Soil & Water Conservation District Board, and Sheriff’s Merit Commission, and also local boards including several fire protection district boards, the Byron Museum District

Board, and the Lost Lake River Conservancy District Board. In recent years, people aren’t always coming forth to apply. “Boards are looking for help, and some aren’t getting a lot of it,” Finfrock said. Right now fire boards seem to have the most unfilled vacancies, he said. While some fire board are appointed by the county board, others are elected by voters within their districts. Having an elected, rather than appointed, board takes a referendum. Several years ago, the ninemember Ogle County Civic Center Authority Board went for a few years with no one applying for sometimes as many as five vacancies. That problem was resolved in 2015 when several Rochelle residents agreed to serve. Finfrock said most of the boards do not require a lot of time, and the application process is simple. Those interested must submit an application which is reviewed by the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s & Juvenile & Probation Committee. The county board announces vacancies and makes appointments on a monthly basis.

By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com

Cassidy Vincent, 10, Rochelle, gets her form checked off by Joanne Carr while visiting Athletico Physical Therapy during the Chocolate Walk held March 9 in Oregon. Photo by Earleen Hinton

walkers qualified for the drawing and several made it to every store. The winners of the gift baskets were Millie Dutchoff, Grand Detour, Mandi Callaway and Katelyn Scruggs, both of Mt. Morris, and Allyson McDaniel and Janelle Bartell, both of

In This Week’s Edition...

Oregon. The merchants were very happy with the number of people who visited their stores. Joanne Canfield of Joanne’s Total Image Salon and Spa said that she knew it was really busy downtown, but she was surprised by the

Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6

number of people that made it to the south side. “I had four times as many people as I thought I would,” she said. “It was a great turnout.” Mary Carr at the Picket Fence on Fifth Street was barely ready when the first Turn to A2

Library News, A8 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B5 Sheriff’s Arrests, B3

The Oregon City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement Tuesday between the city and Oregon Park District for special police services. Oregon Police Chief Darin DeHaan said when special events such as concerts are held around the city more officers are needed to work security. The agreement between the city and park district allows the city to be reimbursed by the park district for the cost of staffing officers at events. The council also approved financing for a 2017 Dodge Charger for the police

Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B5 Zoning, B5

Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com

department to replace a vehicle totaled in a Feb. 17 accident. DeHaan said the cost should be under $34,000, including the squad car and all equipment needed. A $1,000 façade grant to Charlie’s on Washington was also approved. The grant is an incentive for business owners to improve the front of their buildings, granting them $1,000 after having put in $2,000 of their own. In other action, the council approved a resolution to adopt an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) presented by DeHaan. The EOP provides an extensive list of procedures on how to handle natural disasters, fires, and other catastrophes leading to emergency situations.

Deaths, B4 Gail M. Grabins


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