Orr 2017 07 06

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Serving Ogle County since 1851

OREGON Republican Reporter

July 6, 2017 Volume 167, Number 31 - $1.00

Running Again

In Memory

Kennel Postponed

Ogle County Clerk & Recorder Laura Cook will seek a second term in 2018. A7

Serenity Hospice & Home will hold a butterfly release July 8. A6

The DeKalb County Board sent B&C Kennel’s zoning request back to committee. A7

After two bills, two vetoes 911 finally gets its funding By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecountynews.com After two bills and two vetoes, a pair of supermajority overrides in the Illinois General Assembly got Ogle County 911 the funding it needs. House Bill 1811 passed Saturday after a 90-22 House vote and 43-1 Senate vote to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s morning veto. The bill increases the monthly telephone surcharge, which is collected for 911 services, to $5 in Chicago and $1.50 in the rest of the state, up from $3.90 and 87 cents, respectively. It also maintained the Emergency Telephone System Act, a set of

rules and regulations for setting up and funding emergency 911 services at the local government level, until December 2020. HB1811 was identical in language to Senate Bill 1839, which Rauner openly intended to veto. Rauner kept good on his intention Friday, but with amendments — namely, revoking the sunset on the Emergency Telephone System Act. These changes denied the surcharge increases, but would have allowed 911 to continue in Illinois without needing the General Assembly to pass legislation to renew services. However, SB1839 expired Friday evening, at which point the

House pushed forward HB1811, surcharge increases and all. Rauner vetoed the bill entirely, without any amendments, but was overridden. “I’m feeling really good about this right now,” said Sandy Beitel, 911 Coordinator and president of the Illinois chapter of the National Emergency Number Association. “We’ve fought hard to try and move 911 forward, and this will afford us that opportunity. We’re in good shape now.” Rauner called the surcharge increases an unfair and indefensible tax hike. “The majority in the General Assembly waited until the last moment to send this 911 service reauthorization bill to my desk.

Ogle County Emergency 9-1-1 Coordinator Sandy Beitel speaks during the press release informing the public about the importance of Governor Bruce Rauner signing Senate Bill 1839. Also pictured are Ogle County Sheriff Brian Van Vickle and Telecommunicator Jennifer Hoffman. Photo by Zach Arbogast.

Unfortunately, those lawmakers also inserted a major tax hike into this bill, a tax that’s both excessive and unwarranted, and that I

strongly oppose,” Rauner said. “This extreme increase is unfair and indefensible.” Turn to A2

Royalty named at LFR festival By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecountynews.com Kings, queens, and a couple little firecrackers brightened the cloudy evening that threatened to rain out a Mt. Morris celebration. The Let Freedom Ring Festival kicked off last week, and it fought the threat of storms, as several showers poured in earlier through the day and dark clouds swept in fast. An ice cream social, hosted by the Community Woman’s Club, was scheduled, but the storm threat pushed it back to June 30. However, the show went on at 6 p.m. sharp for the Little Miss and Mister Firecracker contest, and save for a tiny sprinkle before the Kable Band concert, the weather held off to crown some littles Firecrackers, a King and Queen, and to let freedom sing. Briggz Scheck, 4, and Ellie Schier, 3, had the sparkling looks and the explosive personalities to be crowned and hatted as Little Mister and Miss Firecracker, respectively. One of the highlights of the contest were the jokes the contestants brought with them. “What do you call an alligator wearing a vest?” asked Briggz. “An investigator!” The parents were nothing short of proud of their children for getting up on stage, and even conquering some stage fright. “He’s usually very shy,” said mother Jennifer Scheck. “Seeing him get up there, tell jokes, and smile without being afraid was very exciting.” After the little jesters told their jokes, it was time for a queen to be crowned, along with Mt. Morris’ first Let Freedom Ring King. As candidates were arriving to the venue, the 2016 Queen, Sydne Robinson, attempted to perform “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert, but found it difficult without her grandfather, Doug Stibers, to perform with her. “I performed this with my grandfather last year for the competition, and I’m actually finding it very difficult to do without him,” she said. “It’s just too special to me.” However, absent grandfather notwithstanding, Robinson Turn to A2

Woman says skunks taking over her yard By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com

Pumping Up Lucy Beckman, age 6, of Oregon, pumps up a balloon at one of the kids’ activities at the Oregon Park District’s and Oregon Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours event at Fairground Park. The event showcased the new playground and exercise equipment recently installed at the park. Photo by Earleen Hinton

In This Week’s Edition...

Birth, A4 Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B10 College News, A4 Entertainment, A6

Fines, B4 Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Oregon Police, A3 Property Transfers, B4

An Oregon resident asked the city council for help last week with a problem that stinks. Marlene Hobbs, 701 S. First St., told the council June 27 that numerous skunks are over-running her yard and neighborhood. She said she has paid repeatedly to have the skunks removed, only to have them return. The most recent invasion involved a mother and seven babies. “I don’t think citizens should have to pay to have skunks removed,” Hobbs said. Mayor Ken Williams asked commissioner Kurt Wilson to look into the problem and report back to the council.

Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, A12, B1 State’s Attorney, B5

Deaths, B5 Vera J. Noffsinger, Alice R. Rebuck, Roger L. Saaijenga

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


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