Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
July 20, 2017 Volume 167, Number 33 - $1.00
Nominations Needed
County Fair
Sculptures of Straw
The Oregon Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual awards. A2
Plenty of family fun at the 2017 Ogle County Fair Aug. 2-6. A7
A national straw sculpting competition is calling Mt. Morris home this year. A2
Statue’s future still in limbo By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecountynews.com Despite the recent passage of a state budget, Ogle County’s most famous and favorite landmark remains shrouded in black plastic and uncertainty. Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director of Communications Ed Cross said last week that funding for repairs to the Black Hawk Statue is being evaluated. “As far as I know nothing has changed,” Cross said on July 13. The long-standing state budget impasse side-tracked the much-needed repairs to the surface of the 106-yearold concrete monument at Lowden State Park near Oregon. State Rep. Tom Demmer said in April that a $350,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) that was earmarked for the statue repairs couldn’t be released until the General Assembly passed budget legislation. Although that happened earlier this
“As far as I know nothing has changed,” — Ed Cross, IDNR month, the statue, which is under the IDNR’s authority, remains encased in black plastic put there last November to protect it from further damage. Created by sculptor Laredo Taft in 1910 as a tribute to Native Americans, the statue stands on a 125-foot bluff overlooking the Rock River and draws thousands of visitors each year. It was unveiled and dedicated in 1911. Taft called his monument “The Eternal Indian,” but it has been known as Black Hawk from the start, in memory of the Sauk medicine man and warrior who frequented this area before his people were driven west in the 1830s by European settlers and the U.S. Army. The Black Hawk statue has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2009.
Over the years, despite numerous repair efforts, parts of the statue have crumbled and fallen off. Winter weather has been especially devastating. Last November, a team from Quality Restorations, Inc., Wood Dale, spent three days wrapping the 50-foot concrete monument in 12 millimeter thick dual-layered polyethylene, padded underneath with blankets, and tied on tight with a half-mile of elastic rope. The durable black plastic used to cover the statue is designed to keep out moisture, protecting the surface from further damage from the cold and freezing and thawing. The blankets underneath are wrapped around the shoulders and arms to further protect them and to keep their sharp edges from cutting the plastic. This was the third winter the statue has spent under wraps. For the previous two winters it was encased in a scaffolding covered A black plastic tarp shrouds the Black Hawk Statue in with green mesh, put in place by then Oregon. Repairs to the statue are on hold due to state Turn to A2 funding issues despite the recent passage of a state budget. Photo by Chris Johnson
County board may take legal action against Oregon
Doggone good day Dogs were the stars at Wiggly Wag By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com Vendors, games, demonstrations, raffles, and a high card hike made for a doggone good day in Oregon. The Oregon Park District hosted its fourth annual Wiggly Wag & Walk event Monday evening at Wiggly Field Dog Park, South 13th Street, Oregon, and neither a rain delay nor the heat could stop these dogs from having their day. At the get-go, visitors were given a card with a list of vendors. Each booth offered to punch a hole on their section of the card, and completed cards could be turned in for raffle tickets towards “doggie” gift baskets, provided by the vendors. Chana-based Anderson Feed Company was on site offering free samples of holistic and grain-free pet food and treat options, and took the time to describe the benefits to customers.
K9 Junction boarding, grooming, and training service, Davis Junction, gave live demonstrations and training tips on agility and obedience, while Ogle County K9 Okar gave a performance in sniffing out drugs. Certainly there was plenty for people to look at, but the day was all about the pups. Tater Tot, a small, fiveyear-old white Old English Bulldog from Oregon, had nothing but smiles to share as she waddled around the fields. “This is our first time here, but she seems to be enjoying herself,” said her owner, Raven. Despite being born deaf and having an allergy to grass, Tater was enjoying seeing all the other dogs. Big dogs had a ball as well; Carver, a seven-year-old Boxer, had no issues saying hello to passersby, and owners Matt and Turn to A2
Officials hope to negotiate street closure By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com
Megan Dickson-Grennan, of Oregon, registers Lemmy, her one-year-old French bulldog, for the High Card Hound Hike at the Oregon Park District’s Wiggly Wag and Walk late Monday afternoon. In addition to the Hike the event offered demonstrations of agility and training tips, along with a drug sniffing performance by Ogle County K9 Okar. Photo by Earleen Hinton
The Oregon City Council could face a lawsuit in the wake of its recent decision not to grant the Ogle County Board’s request to close a block of South Sixth Street. The county board decided Tuesday evening to make one more try at getting the city council to see it their way. After a 35-minute closed session, county board chairman Kim Gouker said the board will send a formal offer to the city council for negotiations to revisit its June 27 decision.
City awards $56,600 street repair contract By Zach Arbogast zarbogast@oglecounty news.com
Ashlynn Smith and her mother, Stephanie, both from Byron, stroll towards the second checkpoint of the two-mile High Card Hound Hike with their dogs Bella and Rocky, a white Zuchon and black Yorkipoo, respectively. Photo by Zach Arbogast
In This Week’s Edition...
Church Bells, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Marriage Licenses, A4
A dog from K-9 Junction performs an agility drill during the demonstration portion of the Oregon Park District’s Wiggly Wag & Walk. Photo by Earleen Hinton
Oregon Library, A2 Oregon Police, B3 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4
The street vacation would have allowed the proposed new jail to connect to the judicial center across what is now the 100 block of South Sixth. If that fails, Gouker said the county will likely take legal action. The board also engaged Montana & Welch, Palos Heights, a law firm specializing in local government law, as special counsel through the state’s attorney’s office. According to a statement released by Gouker after the meeting, “The Montana & Welch law firm was contacted a couple weeks ago to review possible legal remedies, after several options were viewed to construct the new county Jail without vacating Sixth Turn to A9
The Oregon City Council awarded a street reconstruction job and a seven-year garbage disposal contract, as well as entered into an intergovernmental agreement for insurance on July 11. The council awarded a reconstruction job on South Second Street, south of Collins Street, to O’Brien Civil Workers, Inc. The job includes reconstructing the street with a new aggregate base and applying A-2 seal coat, with an estimated cost of $68, 296. O’Brien bid $56,671.38 for the job.
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Moring Disposal was awarded the residential pickup garbage contract for seven years. Also, an ordinance for an intergovernmental cooperation contract with Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association was passed. As per the agreement, the IMLRMA provides liability, property, and workers compensation coverages for municipalities. “They handle the insurance rates for municipalities, and this was more of an update to our existing contract,” said City Clerk Charlene Ruthe. The council meets again on Tuesday, July 25 at 5:30 p.m. at Oregon City Hall, 115 N. Third St. The meeting is open to the public.
Deaths, B4-B5 L. Keith Appel, Arlene Blake, Kristin A. Ellis, Madeline Jane Gribbins, Margaret E. Potts, Earl W. Ring
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