Orr 2017 05 25

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Serving Ogle County since 1851

OREGON Republican Reporter

May 25, 2017 Volume 167, Number 25 - $1.00

Headed to State

Champions!

Last Yard Sale

Members of the Hawks track team qualify for the state meet in Charleston. B1

The OHS softball team wins the 2A regional in Rockford, B1

The Last Breast Yard Sale begins May 27 after 15 years of existence. A8

Oregon council approves zoning for new jail By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com The proposed new Ogle County Jail squeaked past one obstacle Tuesday evening when the Oregon City Council approved a rezoning request by a 3 to 2 vote. The council approved the county board’s request to rezone, from single family residential to commercial, five county-owned lots in the 100 block of South Sixth

Street, where the board plans to build a new 180-bed jail. City commissioners Jim Barnes and Tom Izer cast the no votes, while commissioners Kurt Wilson and Terry Schuster and mayor Ken Williams voted yes. However, the biggest hurdle is yet to come on June 27 when the city council considers a second county request to vacate the same block of South Sixth to allow the jail to connect to the judicial center

via a large sally port across where the street is now. That vote will take at least four yes votes for approval. The Oregon Planning Commission recommended both requests by a 4 to 2 vote on May 18. Williams said the request to vacate the street was not considered Tuesday it depended on the rezoning. “If this didn’t pass we wouldn’t need the second one,” he said.

“Now we need to see what the jail would look like if the street isn’t vacated.” County board chairman Kim Gouker said he appreciated the council’s vote on the rezoning. “We’re pleased that the council followed the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approved a rezoning request that is in their Comprehensive Plan,” he said. “It was a difficult decision,”

Williams said. “I think there were good arguments on both sides.” In a presentation to the council, Gouker said the new jail has been part of the county’s long range plan for 17 years. Specifics of the jail plan have been researched for the last two years, he said, “from location to the size and operation.” “The process was completed with the top priority to find a plan that Turn to A8

Casey’s in Polo robbed

World War II Comes to Oregon

Handgun shown by one suspect Police are looking for two white masked men who robbed the Casey’s General Store at 120 N. Division Ave. at gunpoint around 4:15 Sunday morning. The two Caucasian men – who were wearing bandanas and hoodies, and one of whom was brandishing a handgun – took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled on foot, Polo Police Chief Kurt Cavanaugh said in a news release. No one was injured. Illinois State Police crime scene investigators are assisting. Anyone with information is asked to call Polo police at 815-946-3912 or Ogle County Crime Stoppers at 888-228-4488.

Above, a German calvary soldier directs troops during a World War II battle re-eneactment at Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center on Saturday. Below, World War II re-enactor Rich Russo watches as a German Pak 36, 37mm anti-tank gun fires during a battle Sunday. Photos by Earleen Hinton

Re-enactors recreate at Stronghold

By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com

By Earleen Hinton ehinton@oglecounty news.com Two of the Andrew Sisters sat in the sunshine at the picnic table chatting softly with U.S. Cavalry Captain Ronald Reagan when suddenly a German motorcade buzzed by on the dirt road and shots rang out. The BMW motorcycle sped ahead with the German officer calling out commands, nurses ran through the tall grass as they scurried to their field hospital, a tank revved up, spun around in the mud, and started firing at Allied troops to the east. Within seconds the normally peaceful pasture-like field at the Stronghold Camp and Retreat Center was transformed into a battleground in Austria, circa May 5, 1945. The re-enactment, orchestrated and performed by 360-plus members of the World War Two Historical Reenacting Society, was one of four re-created battles that culminated a week-long celebration of Armed Forces Week.

Daysville, Ridge road speed limits are reduced

“Germany has been invaded at this point by the Russians, French, Polish, American, and British troops. There is ever increasing small areas of Germany that are still up for resistance. The German military was very disciplined and they still presented a formidable force in opposition to the Allies in this late stage of the war, ” said a German re-enactor as he addressed Sunday’s audience. The inaugural event was held Saturday and Sunday at Stronghold with German and Allied troops making camp in Stronghold Castle

In This Week’s Edition...

Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B8-B12 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B6 Marriage Licenses, A4

and its surrounding grounds. Saturday’s rain didn’t deter visitors from making their way to Stronghold, located two miles north of Oregon. Isaiah Akins, age 11, of Polo, was at the event with his family to collect information for his upcoming Ogle County Fair project. “He took pictures, held some guns, and wore a German helmet,” his mom said. When visitors entered the main gate at the event they were given a copy of a German passport to enter the castle, which had been transformed into Castle Itter, an Austrian castle

Oregon Library, A6 Public Voice, B4 Property Transfers, B6 RRC Activities, A6

that was actually used by the SS as a prisoner of war camp for high profile French prisoners throughout the war. A round room just under the first archway to the Stronghold Castle, was transformed into a communication center where German soldiers tapped out messages on vintage radio equipment to troops using Morse Code. SS officers set up their headquarters on the first floor and in the Great Room demonstrations about military uniforms and weapons were held. Turn to A2

Sheriff’s Arrests, B5 Social News, A4 Sports, A10, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B6

Motorists on two Ogle County roads need to keep an eye on the speedometer. The county board voted May 16 to lower the speed limits on portions of Daysville and Ridge Roads. County engineer Jeremy Ciesiel said the changes went into effect immediately and will be enforced as soon as the new signs are in place. The speed limit will be reduced from 55 mph to 50 mph on Daysville Road between Second Street in Daysville and Lowden Road. On Ridge Road, the speed limit will be in two steps. The 40 mph will now extend from the north of the curves going into Grand Detour to near Wisconsin Street, and the 55 mph limit will be reduced to 50 mph from north of the curves to Edgewood Road. Both changes were made to increase safety for residents and motorists.

Deaths, B5 Bonnie Jean Daniels, Mark O’Hara, Eugene C. Vogt

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


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