Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
First Win
Candidates
Art Show
The Oregon girls soccer team picks up their first win in the team’s history. B1
March 30, 2017 Volume 167, Number 16 - $1.00
The Phidian Art Show is set to begin on April 11. A6
Meet the candidates running in contested races during the April 4 election. A8&A9
Chefs’ creative cooking Fun, community, and bragging rights at What’s Cookin’ By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com
March 25 to ask “what’s cookin’?” They got their answer: appetizers, side dishes, More than 600 people main courses, and desserts came from all over Ogle served up by 32 cooking County to Barnacopia on teams – including five junior groups. Held at Barnacopia, 2570 N. West Branch Rd., Polo, “What’s Cookin’” is an annual fundraiser for the Rock River Center (RRC), 810 S. 10th St., Oregon. For $20, hungry patrons received a tray and are turned loose on food samples all over the venue. Those food samples included some classic favorites such as barbecue ribs, stuffed mushrooms, Esther Michol dished out over 300 of these miniature and cupcakes, to creative cupcakes, made from Bassline Bakery in Mt. Morris. concoctions like pulled pork parfaits, triple-chocolate Photo by Zach Arbogast.
Junior Division “Fresh Fashionistas” McKenna Tremble (middle, grey) and Sydney Hermes (right) serve some of their blue velvet cupcakes to friends. Photo by Zach Arbogast.
shooters, and “Pork Candy;” cubed pork shoulder smoked with honey, brown sugar, and a homemade barbecue seasoning rub. The team representation was as varied as the food options; traditional cooking teams and restaurants like Hopper’s Poppers, Pizza Hut, and 10th Street Catering were joined by teams representing businesses like Country Financial, living and rehabilitation centers from Dixon and Oregon, and E.D. Etnyre. “I’ve done many events, but none like this one,” said Ryan Hopper, owner of Hopper’s Poppers. “This place was busy from the start, and hasn’t let up all night.” According to RRC Events Coordinator Marcia Heuer, the event has doubled in scope each year since beginning in 2013. Heuer was particularly proud of the new Junior Division, allowing young chefs to strut their cooking stuff. “Despite being a fundraiser for the center, it is also a great chance for the cooks and their brands,” said Heuer. “That includes whether they’re professional vendors looking to attract business, or amateurs out for bragging rights.” Speaking of bragging rights, guests were given colored tickets to vote for their favorite appetizers, side dishes, entrées, desserts, and junior creations through the evening, including an Turn to A2
Student wants to help classmates By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com Oregon High School’s Open Program has sophomores serving the community through several long-term projects, and one young lady’s mission is to help other struggling students right on the home front. Glorie O’Connell, 15, is aiming to turn room 203 into a place where students in need can come hang out, receive help with their homework, eat some food, and even get some clothes if they cannot afford any. Calling her project the “Homework Hub and Pantry Drive,” O’Connell is taking donations of food, toiletries, and clothing, and gathering teacher and volunteer support to offer tutoring and supervision after school. O’Connell says she had been speaking to dean Shannon Cremeens and aide Alice Starkey about the amount of students that Turn to A2
Anne Swan-Johnson, Savanna, gives antique glassware a serious look-over March 25 at the 67th annual Oregon Woman’s Club Antique Show. She said she likes the show and comes every year. Photo by Vinde Wells
Antiques show helps old school By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com The morning was still young and already the donation jar was filling up to replace the roof on the Chana School Museum. “We’ve had quite a bit of interest and quite a few donations,” said volunteer Mark Herman who was manning the table for the Chana School Foundation along with Earlyne Warmolts March 25 at the 67th annual Oregon Woman’s Club Antique Show at the Blackhawk Center, Oregon. Woman’s club members started a new tradition this year by inviting the Chana School Foundation to have a table at the show.
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, B5
Turn to A2
Townships have contested races By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Voters will decide who will serve on the boards of several governing bodies when they go to the polls on Tuesday, April 4. On the ballot are village boards, city councils, township boards and road commissioners, school boards, community college boards, library boards, park district boards, one forest preserve board, and several fire protection district boards. Although some races are contested, most candidates are shoo-ins running with no competition, and a few seats will remain open after the election because no one filed. The only referendum on the ballot is a .5 percent sales tax increase in the Village of Hillcrest. The purpose of the tax hike is for public infrastructure and property tax relief. Many of the contested races are in the townships, where several road commissioners are facing challenges. Glorie O’Connell plans to turn this underutilized Room 203 into a place where kids can In Buffalo Township, receive food, help with their studies, some donated clothes, a few toiletries, and some William H. Clothier and simple companionship. Photo by Zach Arbogast. Hunter Gray are both seeking
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B3
Club members plan to feature a local not-for-profit from now on to give the agency or organization an opportunity to present its mission, activities, goals, and needs to the visiting public. Although it wasn’t yet noon on Saturday, the first day of the two-day show, the pile of money was growing in the foundation’s donation jar. Herman visited with Robert Dillavou, Forreston, about the roofing project. The new metal roof will look like the original wooden shingles and has been approved by the National Register of Historic Places, where the 134-year-old tworoom country school is listed,
the position, while in Byron Township incumbent Ronald Gibson is challenged by newcomer Wade Kretsinger. Leaf River Township’s Anthony Peterson is challenged by his uncle Paul T. Bral for the post. Four years ago Peterson defeated his grandfather Francis Bral and two others in a four-way race. In Monroe Township, it’s a three-way race between Larry W. Baxter, Scott Bearrows, and Justin Thibodeau. Pine Rock Road Commissioner Gary Clark is challenged by Jeff Winterland, and in Rockvale, Commissioner Tim Wiltfang faces his second challenge in four years from Jason Benesh. Clayton Fraley and Heath L. Strohman are both hoping to serve as White Rock Township Road Commissioner once the votes are cast. Other contested township races include a challenge from Garrett Nettz who hopes to unseat Rita Dauphin as multi-township assessor for Pine Creek, Grand Detour, Eagle Point and Woosung Townships. Turn to A2
Deaths, B4-B5 Elizabeth J. Brown, Martha Sue Gilbert, Evelyn G. Hall, Marvin W. Kaney, Julia J. Meyers, Nancy Ryder, Kenneth L. Turner, Virginia A. Waldsmith
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