Orr 2017 08 10

Page 1

Serving Ogle County since 1851

OREGON Republican Reporter

Mission Work

Right Notes

Area youth are making a difference helping others through an Oregon church. A10

August 10, 2017 Volume 167, Number 36 - $1.00

Teachers Contract

Petunia City Brass contest hit the right notes at OHS. B3

The Byron School Board and its teachers approve a new contract. A2

Cool weather may be a first for county fair Estimated crowd of 17,000 turns out for events By Vinde Wells and Zach Arbogast news@oglecounty news.com

Council discusses letter By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com

The Oregon City Council discussed a pending lawsuit in a 40-minute closed session Tuesday evening but took no action on what the next step will be. Mayor Ken Williams said the council was going into closed session to talk about a letter related to the Ogle County Board’s request to permanently close the 100 block of South Sixth Street for a new jail. County board chairman Kim Gouker said last week that the letter is a formal offer to negotiate the council’s decision not to vacate the street. Williams declined to comment after the closed session, and neither he nor Katelyn Mernack, 20, of Stillman Gouker would reveal the Valley was crowned Miss Ogle County contents of the letter. on Aug. 2. She was crowned by last The city council rejected year’s winner, Maddie Kirchner. Photo Trent Heller, Grand Detour, holds his chicken as he looks at the poultry judge the county’s request on June by Peter Balser, Sauk Valley Media at the Ogle County Fair on Aug. 4. Photo by Earleen Hinton 27, even though a majority voted for it. Three of the five city council members voted to grant the county’s request to vacate the street. However, according to state statute, a super majority of four votes was required for the measure to pass. Williams and commissioners Terry Schuster and Kurt Wilson voted yes, but commissioners Jim Barnes and Tom Izer voted no. The county board decided July 18 to send a formal offer to the city

The 164th Ogle County Fair may have set a record for the coolest temperatures ever. At an event usually noted for the very steamy 90s, this year early mornings and late nights in the low 50s called for long sleeves and maybe even a jacket. Daytime temperatures reached just to the upper 70s with low humidity. Fair board president Harlan Holm said he couldn’t remember a fair that was overall as cool. “Thursday night when that cool front came through, it was darn cold. I put a sweatshirt on,” he said with a chuckle. It was still sweatshirt weather Friday morning when a stiff breeze added another dimension to the chilly temperatures. “It warmed up fast every day though,” Holm said. “ And I’d rather have it in the 70s than the 90s.” An estimated 17,000 turned out for fair, which was held Aug. 2-6 at the fairgrounds west of Oregon. That number is down slightly from last year, Holm said, something he attributed to the forecast on Thursday. “Our attendance was down Turn to A3 Thursday,” he said. “It was sunny but they were calling for rain all day, and I think that kept a lot of people away.” Friday and Saturday were the fair’s busiest days with large crowds coming to the grandstand shows. Saturday’s demolition Kateyn Bowers, age 12, Oregon, sticks her tongue out and smiles as she swings on a carnival ride at the Ogle The White Pines Resort derby was the biggest draw County Fair on Aug. 4. Photo by Earleen Hinton is offering a unique event to with the Big Hat Rodeo on help the Village of Progress Friday a close second. recover from a devastating Jon Pearson, President July flash flood. of the Ogle County Beef On Monday, Aug. 21, Association, was happy to be Denny Diamond, will begin on hand on Saturday selling performing at 6 p.m. followed burgers, brisket, and ribeye by a cocktail hour, at 9 p.m.. steak sandwiches. The cost of this fundraiser “It’s always a good time is $28 per person and includes here,” said Pearson. “I’m a White Pines’ homemade huge fan of the tractor pull, potato chips and one free and we have a great time beverage (beer, wine or soft serving our products to the drink). hungry community.” White Pines is also offering Ivy Unger, Nelson, said the a special cabin rate of $98 for pigs building is her favorite those who would like to spend place at the fair. the night out at the Pines. “I just love the pigs, and White Pines Resort will going through the tent really be donating 50 percent of makes me just want to take all ticket, food, beverage one home!” Unger said. and cabin sales, to Village of The 4-H and Junior Open Progress Inc. to help offset Shows went on throughout costs of flood damage to its the fair and covered a wide facility. array of topics from the Additional information traditional livestock, foods, Eric Rackow, 223, takes a hit on both sides from Kevin Pannkuk, 171, and Zach Dewey, 112 during a heat of the appears on page A4. Turn to B2 Demolition Derby at the Ogle County Fair on Saturday. Photo by Zach Arbogast.

Benefit for VOP is Aug. 21

In This Week’s Edition...

Church News, A5 Classifieds, B6-B10 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B5

Oregon Police, A9 Public Voice, A7 Property Transfers, B4 Sheriff’s Arrests, B4

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

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

Death, B5 Darrel N. Hepp


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.