Serving Ogle County since 1851
OREGON Republican Reporter
November 30, 2017 Volume 167, Number 51 - $1.00
Tourney Time
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Angel Ball
The Hawks only lose one game in their annual Thanksgiving Tournament. B1
Earth Angels is seeking toys and donations for families in need. A7
Tickets are on sale now for the Oregon Rotary Club’s Angel Ball on Dec. 2. A6
Don’t worry — smaller garbage totes are coming By Vinde Wells vwells@oglecounty news.com Oregon residents started getting their new garbage totes this week, but not everyone is pleased. Commissioner Jim Barnes told the city council Tuesday evening that he heard from one resident who had ordered a small tote but received the standard 95-gallon size instead. In answer to Barnes’ question, Commissioner Kurt Wilson said the smaller totes have not yet arrived from the manufacturer in North Carolina. As soon as they do, he said, Moring Disposal employees Renae Johnson, Oregon, helps Waylon, age 4, make his Make-N-Take Reindeer Bag at the Winter Carnival during will swap out the 95-gallon Oregon’s Candlelight Walk on Saturday. Photo by Earleen Hinton totes for the smaller size. The city council approved a request from Moring Disposal, Inc., Forreston, in September that residents switch from garbage cans to the totes, which have wheels, for both garbage and recyclables. If properly positioned, the totes can be picked up and emptied by an automatic By Vinde Wells of Davis Junction, and his arm on the garbage truck, vwells@oglecounty three siblings got to see them which means less manpower news.com outside Gramma’s Attic. is required for garbage “I was surprised they were collection. Streets thronged with here,” he said. Some residents voiced shoppers, Christmas music Sharon Bocker, owner of concern, however, that the and decorations, and a visit Gramma’s Attic, said the 95-gallon totes would be too from St. Nick definitely put characters were popular. much for them to handle. Oregon in a holiday mood “Everybody wants to see Moring officials, who are Saturday evening. PAW Patrol,” she said with a supplying the totes at no cost “Our 31st annual chuckle. to residents, agreed to furnish Candlelight Walk went Amy Levan, of Forreston, smaller totes to anyone who off fabulously well,” said brought her family to see requests them. Debbie Dickson, Chamber them and ended up shopping In another matter, of Commerce Executive for her six-month-old although Mayor Ken Director. “Since this is not a daughter at Gramma’s Attic. Williams announced that no gated event with entry fees, “She needs a Christmas discussion would be held or there is no way to have an dress,” she said. “I thought I action taken on a proposed accurate head count, but would find that here.” intergovernmental agency my best, and conservative, Down the street at Creative agreement with Ogle County guesstimate would be at least Designs, owner Carol over Sixth Street, an Oregon 2,000 people.” Bellows said the crowd was resident voiced her opposition. The appearance of several steady. At the beginning of the PAW Patrol characters “I haven’t sat down yet,” meeting, Williams said no outside Washington Street she said with a smile. “They closed session would be held, businesses drew families to get a kick out of the live Hayden and Madison Armbruster, ages 5 and 3, of as listed on the agenda, to the downtown. mannequins in the window, Oregon, pose with Marshall of PAW Patrol during Oregon’s discuss the closing of the 100 Candlelight Walk on Saturday. Photo by Earleen Hinton Nine-year-old Evan Stahl, Turn to A2 block of South Sixth Street for
Candlelight Walk draws estimated crowd of 2,000
the new proposed county jail. Attorneys for the city and county have been negotiating an agreement between their clients for several weeks. “We have received nothing back so we won’t be discussing it,” he said. During the public comment period, Anne Jones told the council that she hopes Williams, Wilson and commissioner Terry Schuster will join Barnes and commissioner Tom Izer in opposing the county’s plan build the new jail at the Sixth Street location. “The county has no regard for private property, small business, or even the City of Oregon,” she said. “Now you, the mayor, and commissioners Schuster and Wilson, you have the burden to keep this town out of the county’s hands…. Let’s keep our uniqueness and let’s keep our town the way it should be.” The county approved a contract Nov. 21 with Chicago architects Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. for the architectural and engineering design of a 70,000 square-foot jail facility with a connecting link from the new facility to the existing county judicial center. In other business, two announcements were made. Schuster said students from the Oregon High School social entrepreneurship class will hold an open house on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Coliseum to showcase the micro-businesses they have developed and to seek investors. Oregon resident Ginger Pearson said that for the first time, toys for the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots program are being collected in Oregon. Drop-off sites have been established at the city hall, as well as several local businesses for new, unwrapped toys for youths ages 0-18. The toys collected will go to families in Ogle County, she said.
Fires claim seven lives in Ogle County in two weeks By Kathleen A. Schultz kschultz@saukvalley.com Seven Ogle County residents have lost their lives in two house fires within two weeks. Two adults and four children – all members of the same family – died in a house fire at 204 N. Miami Drive in Lost Nation shortly after midnight on Nov. 21. Timothy Shaw, 39, and his wife Melissa, 37, and their children, Ethen, 17, LeAnne, 15, Hailey, 12, and Dylan, 11, died in the fire. Lost Nation is on the Ogle-Lee county line. Leaf River firefighter Greg Wood, 19, died Nov.
10 in a fire that destroyed his family’s home at 209 W. Second St., Leaf River. His father, Marcus Wood, 43, and brother, Travis, 16, were also seriously injured in the blaze and were hospitalized. His mother, Nicole, was treated and released. Both fires remain under investigation, Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said Monday. According to the sheriff’s department, Ethan Shaw called 911 shortly after midnight, reporting there was smoke in the basement and he was trapped. When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed.
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Autopsies determined that all of the victims died of smoke inhalation, according to Ogle County Coroner Louis Finch. One of the bodies was found on the second floor, four were found on the first floor, and one was located in the basement. Dixon Public Schools Superintendent Margo Empen said the four children all attended Dixon schools – two attended Dixon High, one Reagan Middle, and one Madison Elementary. “We are extremely saddened by the loss of Little remained of 204 Miami Drive in Lost Nation after a fire destroyed the house. Ogle members of our Dixon County Sheriff Brian VanVickle said the home’s roof collapsed during the fire, and a public school family. We few walls were left. Photo by Alex T. Paschal, Sauk Valley Media Turn to A2
Church News, A5 Classifieds, B5-B8 Entertainment, A6 Fines, B3
Library News, A3 Marriage Licenses, A4 Public Voice, A4 Property Transfers, B3
Sheriff’s Arrests, B3 Social News, A4 Sports, B1, B2 State’s Attorney, B4
Deaths, B4 Carl L. Belha, Donald J. Finn, Lloyd K. Miller, Virgil J. Swalve
Published every Thursday by Ogle County Newspapers, a division of Shaw Media • www.oglecountynews.com